Korean Air flying high in China

Korean Air has seen its operations in China increase by 34 percent as of April, compared with the same period last year, the airliner stated in a news conference in Beijing on Monday.

Since the implementation of the visa-free policy for South Korean citizens on Nov 8, 2024, there has been a notable increase in Korean travelers to geographically proximate Qingdao of Shandong province, as well as to warmer winter destinations like Shanghai, Xiamen of Fujian province, Shenzhen and Guangzhou of Guangdong province, said Yohan Park, chief of Korean Air's China Regional Headquarters.

"To accommodate this growing demand, our company has taken strategic measures to enhance capacity. We have not only increased flight frequencies on key routes but also launched a new Fuzhou-Seoul service, capitalizing on Fuzhou's proximity to Xiamen," Park says.

Based on April's flight operations, Korean Air now serves 20 Chinese mainland cities through 26 routes, with 182 weekly flights — a 34 percent year-on-year increase, recovering to 86 percent of pre-pandemic (2019) levels.

This growth coincides with the South Korean government's recent announcement that it is considering a visa-waiver program for Chinese tour groups, signaling a potential rebound in bilateral exchanges.

Moving forward, Korean Air will continue to closely monitor market trends and adapt its China-South Korea network dynamically to meet evolving travel demands.

In mid-March, the company announced the upgrading of its airport lounges and introducing Premium Economy cabins as part of its service enhancement strategy. This initiative follows the unveiling of its new corporate identity ahead of its acquisition of Asiana first announced in late 2020 and finalized in December 2024.