Increase in Korea-China International Flights to Pre-COVID Levels

Additional Flights Starting from the 3rd under the Korea-China Air Service Agreement

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 3rd that it has agreed on a plan to increase the number of flights on Korea-China routes according to the number of traffic rights under the air transport agreement between the Korean and Chinese governments before COVID-19.

This agreement on the increase plan is a follow-up measure to the "lifting of restrictions on increasing Korea-China routes." Since February, the Ministry has been closely negotiating with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to restore Korea-China international flights.

Reflecting the recent trend of increased air travel demand due to the easing of quarantine regulations between the two countries, it was agreed to promote an increase in flights according to the air transport agreement concluded between the two countries without separate restrictions on the number of flights due to quarantine regulations.

First, in March, an increase in flights is expected mainly on major routes such as Incheon-Beijing, Incheon-Shanghai, Incheon-Qingdao, Incheon-Yanji, and Jeju-Shanghai, and other routes are also expected to be gradually increased during this year’s summer period (3.26~10.28).

In addition, with the unification of domestic arrival airports for flights departing from China (Incheon), international flights between domestic regional airports and China, which were restricted from January 2 to February 28, are expected to resume sequentially. Accordingly, the Jeju-Xian (Jin Air) and Daegu-Yanji (T’way Air) routes plan to resume operations from the 16th.

Future specific increase schedules will be carried out sequentially considering demand by airline and preparation status such as ground staff at Chinese local airports, and detailed flight schedules by airline can be checked sequentially through the websites of airlines operating Korea-China international flights.

Kim Young-guk, Director of Aviation Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "This agreement on the increase plan is expected to meet the accumulated passenger demand of the people of both countries and business demand between companies during the COVID-19 period," adding, "Through a smooth increase in Korea-China international flights, it will also revitalize the recently sluggish domestic market."