Korean Air announces network realignment and new route

In response to competition in the global aviation market, Korean Air has announced some network realignment and a new route.

In response to competition in the global aviation market, Korean Air has announced some network realignment and a new route.

Commencing April 2017, Korean Air will introduce direct flights from Incheon to Barcelona, the second largest city of Spain next to Madrid and one of the most visited cities in Europe, both by tourists and business travelers. As the cultural center of Catalonia, Barcelona has several internationally acclaimed cultural attractions such as the MACBA (Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona), the Picasso Museum, the Mirรณ Foundation and the MNAC (Museu Nacional dโ€™Art de Catalunya). Barcelona is also one of the worldโ€™s top cities for the international conferences and events including the GSM World Mobile Congress and the Grand Prix of Spain F1.


The new direct flight will run three times a week from Incheon. The launch of the new route marks the first ever direct flight to Barcelona from Northeast Asia.

Due to a rise in demand, Korean Air is increasing the frequency of flights between Incheon and San Francisco from seven to fourteen flights weekly. The increase in frequency will be introduced on a gradual basis; from late April to June flights will be increased to twelve weekly, from June to August flights will be increased to thirteen weekly and from September flights will be increased to fourteen weekly.

In addition, Korean Air will increase the frequency of flights between Incheon and Seattle from five to seven flights weekly from May, 2017. Also the currently two daily flights between Incheon and Los Angeles will be increased to three daily flights during the summer high season from June to August.

In March this year, Korean Air was granted permission to operate between Incheon and Teheran. Korean Air will decide the timing of the launch of its route to Teheran following the completion of a market conditions and financial trade environment study.

Due to low demand and to increase profitability, Korea Air will suspend two routes. From early Feb, 2017, Korean Air will suspend the Incheon to Siem Reap Cambodia route and from late February the Incheon flight to Jedda, Saudia Arabia (via Riyadh) will cease operation. Korean Air will endeavor to minimize the impact on its passengers as much as possible through increased connections with middle eastern airlines that operate from Dubai International Airport.

Through constant development of new routes and the reduction of flights with low demand, Korean Air will maximize its profitability to ensure sustainability and competitiveness.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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