Jeju Air and T'way to Launch Flights Between Incheon and Mongolia

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Allocates Transport Rights for 10 Routes

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) are set to operate flights to Mongolia (Incheon~Ulaanbaatar) for the first time.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the afternoon of the 14th that it held an Air Traffic Deliberation Committee meeting and allocated the Mongolia traffic rights (10 routes) additionally secured through last year's air talks to eight domestic airlines.

The ministry explained that, in line with the phased international flight normalization plan starting next month aimed at restoring the public's routine overseas travel, traffic rights were allocated for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Air Traffic Deliberation Committee, which had not been held since 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak blocking air routes, was convened this year to expand various routes targeting the recovery of air travel demand.

The ministry allocated the additional Incheon~Ulaanbaatar peak season (June to September) traffic rights, secured through last year's air talks with the Mongolian government, with nine weekly flights distributed among airlines.

Jeju Air and T'way Air secured four and three weekly flights respectively, becoming the first domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) to operate the Incheon~Ulaanbaatar route. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, holding six and three weekly flights respectively, also received an additional one weekly flight each.

The ministry explained that with LCCs newly entering the Mongolia route, previously operated only by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, travelers will be able to visit Mongolia at more affordable fares.

To improve mobility convenience for local residents, the ministry allocated two weekly flights on the Yangyang~Chengdu (China) route to Fly Gangwon. Additionally, traffic rights for eight non-competitive routes including Incheon~Germany and Korea~New Zealand were newly or additionally allocated.

Regarding the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, amid ongoing merger reviews by overseas competition authorities such as the European Union (EU), Air Premia, a domestic airline, will newly operate the Korea~Germany route, a monopoly route in Europe, with five weekly flights, which is expected to have a positive impact on the competition authorities' review.

Korean Air received two weekly flights on the Korea~New Zealand route; Fly Gangwon received two weekly flights on the Yangyang~Shanghai route; Eastar Jet received 760 seats weekly on the Cheongju~Manila route; Air Incheon received one weekly flight for Incheon~Ulaanbaatar (cargo) and one unit weekly for Incheon~Singapore; Korean Air received two weekly flights for Korea~Rome and Milan (cargo).