Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Plans to Restore International Flights to 50% This Year... Half of 2019 Levels

Korean Air passenger planes and others are parked at the Gimpo Airport apron in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Tae-min] The government has unveiled a plan to restore international flights to 50% of the 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic, by the end of the year.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 3rd, practical consultations on the plan to restore international flights were completed with quarantine authorities such as the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The plan is expected to be submitted as an agenda item at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting as early as next week. As the government is gradually easing quarantine measures, including a slight relaxation of the current social distancing rules for two weeks starting from the 4th of this month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s plan is likely to be implemented from May.

In 2019, South Korea operated 4,770 scheduled international flights per week, but last month only 406 flights were operated. This month, the number slightly increased to 420 flights due to the government’s exemption of quarantine for incoming travelers, but it still accounts for only 8.8% compared to 2019.

The number of international arrivals per hour at Incheon International Airport was about 40 before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is currently limited to 10 flights. According to the draft plan for restoring international flights, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport intends to promote the increase in international flights in three stages. Starting in May, the first stage plan will be implemented, increasing international flights by 100 flights per month during the period, and raising the arrival flight limit at Incheon Airport to 20 flights per hour.

Then, around July to August, the second stage will begin, increasing international flights by 300 flights per month and expanding the arrival slot limit at Incheon Airport (the number of possible takeoffs and landings per hour) to 30 flights per hour. When the COVID-19 situation transitions to an endemic, the third stage will be implemented to ultimately restore international flights to 50%. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects to implement the third stage plan as early as October this year.

In the long term, the Ministry is also considering lifting the mandatory polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon entry. This is because if international flights increase, there will not be enough personnel and space at Incheon Airport to conduct PCR tests for all incoming travelers.

Due to the government’s restrictions on international flights, domestic airlines face the risk of having to return overseas airport slots. Generally, airlines must use 80% of their allocated slots to maintain their rights. If domestic airlines cannot operate international flights, they risk losing slots at major airports in the US, Europe, and other regions to foreign airlines. The aviation industry also states that the resumption of international flights this year is crucial for their survival.