Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation (4th from the left), is taking a commemorative photo with airport workers after a congratulatory performance.Photo by Korea Airports Corporation
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] The skies from all international airports across South Korea to overseas destinations have fully reopened.
Korea Airports Corporation announced on the 26th that with the reopening of the international route between Cheongju and Dalat, Vietnam, seven regional international airports have simultaneously resumed international flights for the first time in about two years and five months since February 2020.
To celebrate the full reopening of international routes at national international airports, an event themed "Airport, A New Beginning! Fly Again" was held, where airport workers celebrated the full resumption of international flights and pledged a vigorous leap forward as newly emerging glocal airports.
Starting with Gimhae Airport, which was the first regional airport to resume international flights with the Japan Fukuoka route on May 31, Daegu Airport resumed the Vietnam Da Nang route on May 28, and Jeju Airport resumed the Thailand Bangkok route on June 2, gradually restarting international flights. Yangyang Airport has been operating the Philippines Clark route twice a week since June 24. Muan Airport began operating the Vietnam Nha Trang route on the 14th, resuming international flights after two years and four months.
The golden route between Gimpo and Haneda, which resumed operations eight times a week on the 29th of last month, has been operating daily since the day before. From August 1, the frequency will increase significantly to 28 times a week. As a result, daily ultra-short trips between Seoul and Tokyo from Gimpo Airport will be possible, bringing it one step closer to the representative business route before COVID-19.
Korea Airports Corporation has discussed cooperation measures for the prompt resumption of international flights through CEO meetings with major overseas airports in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Vietnam, meetings with airline and travel industry representatives, Asia route development meetings, and consultations with foreign airlines. They have proactively worked toward early normalization of international flights, including continuous government proposals to improve quarantine procedures for overseas arrivals.
In the second half of the year, when international flights are fully restored, the corporation plans to promote the restoration and new establishment of medium- and long-haul international routes through one-on-one meetings with major foreign airlines at the World Route Development Conference. Additionally, joint route activation promotions with overseas airports, national carriers, and the travel industry will be implemented to normalize international air travel demand.
To stimulate inbound tourism demand through regional airports, various demand activation measures for aviation-tourism collaboration will also be pursued, such as developing airport-tourist destination linked content and experience programs in cooperation with local governments and tourism organizations, and conducting joint marketing with overseas OTAs (online travel agencies).
Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, "After breaking through the long darkness of two years and five months, all seven regional international airports have finally reopened, greatly expanding the range of airports that citizens can choose when traveling abroad." He added, "Now is the time to fully focus on demand recovery to ensure the successful stabilization of restored routes." He further said, "Although COVID-19 is showing signs of resurgence, the corporation will do its utmost to provide a perfect quarantine system and safer airport operation services."
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