Asiana Airline boosts flights to China as demand recovers

Asiana Airlines Inc. said on Thursday that it would increase its flights to China by nearly nine times from this month, aiming to restore half of its pre-pandemic capacity in one of its most lucrative markets.

The South Korean carrier said it will operate 89 flights a week on 17 routes to China, up from 10 flights a week on nine routes previously. The expansion comes as both countries ease travel restrictions and visa requirements amid declining COVID-19 cases.

Asiana Airlines said it resumed flights to Guangzhou, Qingdao, Xi’an and Tianjin on Mar. 6 after suspending them for three years due to the pandemic. It also added more flights to Shenzhen and other cities.

Starting from Mar. 26, when the summer schedule begins, the airline will further increase its flights to major Chinese destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It will also resume flights from Gimpo Airport in Seoul to Shanghai and Beijing.

An Asiana Airlines official said that the move would be a “starting point” for fully recovering its China business and that it would continue to play a “bridging role” for economic cooperation between the two countries.

Korean Air Lines Co. and several low-cost carriers are also planning to ramp up their flights to China in line with their summer schedules. The Korean government said last month that it agreed with China to expand bilateral flights to pre-pandemic levels as soon as possible.

Write to Ji-Hyun Lee at bluesky@hankyung.com