Korean Air Launches New Incheon-Gobe Route Starting April 18

First Korean National Airline to Launch Incheon-Kobe Route in Japan

Korean Air announced on the 18th that it will start operating two daily flights on the Incheon-Kobe route in Japan beginning April 18. Korean Air is the first Korean national airline to operate flights on this route.

The Incheon-Kobe route departs from Incheon International Airport at 8:25 AM and arrives at Kobe Airport at 10:00 AM. The return flight departs from Kobe Airport at 11:00 AM and arrives at Incheon International Airport at 1:00 PM.

The afternoon departure leaves Incheon International Airport at 3:50 PM and arrives at Kobe Airport at 5:30 PM. The return flight departs from Kobe Airport at 6:30 PM and arrives at Incheon International Airport at 8:40 PM. The flight time is approximately 2 hours.

Korean Air passenger plane. Provided by Korean Air

Kobe is considered one of the key cities in the Kansai region of Japan, along with Osaka and Kyoto. In 1868, when Japan first opened its ports to the West, Kobe grew into a port city serving as a hub for Northeast Asia.

Kobe is famous for its exotic scenery blending East and West. The Kitano Ijinkan (北野異人館) street, which preserves the appearance of Japan’s Meiji era, Nankinmachi (南京町), one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns, and Harborland, where visitors can fully experience the atmosphere of Kobe’s port, create a perfect harmony of old Japanese charm and the unique vibe of a port city. Additionally, Kobe is known for its beautiful night views overlooking the sea, the Arima (有馬) Onsen, one of Japan’s three famous hot springs, and Kobe beef, one of Japan’s finest quality beefs, offering a variety of attractions and culinary delights.

Kobe is located in the central part of the Kansai region, providing excellent accessibility to nearby cities. From Kobe, it takes less than an hour by public transportation to reach cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara to the east, and Himeji and Okayama to the west, enabling linked tourism with surrounding cities. It takes as little as 20 minutes to get from Kobe to Osaka by express train, high-speed rail, or subway.

A Korean Air official stated, "In response to the increasing demand for travel to Japan, we plan to strengthen our competitiveness with differentiated routes and continue various efforts to enhance customer travel convenience."