Airline Industry Faces Consecutive International Route Reductions Due to Omicron Spread

Incheon-Guam Route Operation Delayed Until Next Year
Normalization Delayed...Concerns Over Worsening Management

On the 9th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens are waiting to be tested at the testing center set up in the outdoor space on the west side of the basement level 1 of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Due to the spread of the COVID-19 variant virus 'Omicron,' cancellations of international flights scheduled to resume this month are occurring one after another. The industry, which had hoped for a recovery in passenger demand with the implementation of the With Corona (gradual return to normal life) policy, expressed concerns that business normalization is being delayed.

According to the aviation industry on the 12th, Korean Air reduced the Incheon-Osaka route from three times a week to twice a week (Wednesday and Thursday) starting today. The company plans to respond flexibly to international flights while closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and government quarantine guidelines.

Asiana Airlines postponed the Incheon-Guam route, originally scheduled to operate on the 23rd, to January 30 of next year. The company had announced the resumption of the Guam air route for the first time in 18 years since it was suspended in 2003, but delayed the operation due to the global spread of Omicron.

Jeju Air also canceled 7 out of 8 Guam flights scheduled from the 4th to the 16th of this month, and left open the possibility of changes to the planned four weekly flights after the 16th depending on the quarantine situation. The company also temporarily postponed the scheduled Bangkok route operation this month to next year.

Jin Air reduced the Incheon-Guam flights from four times a week to twice a week, and Air Seoul, which planned to resume the Incheon-Guam route on the 23rd after about 660 days, decided to postpone it to January 29 of next year.

The new LCC Air Premia was also scheduled to operate the Incheon-Singapore travel bubble (safe travel zone) route on the 24th, but due to delays in additional flight negotiations with government authorities, it plans to start only the cargo transport business on that route first.

With the government implementing a 10-day quarantine for all arrivals from abroad for two weeks from the 3rd to the 16th due to the resurgence of COVID-19, the aviation industry expects that international routes may be further postponed or delayed.

The industry expressed concerns about the possibility of worsening financial conditions as demand for international flights freezes again. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have been maintaining operations through paid-in capital increases and government support since international flights became difficult after the spread of COVID-19 last year.

An aviation industry official said, "With the urgent need to normalize international flights, the temporary suspension or delay of operations is increasing difficulties for the industry," adding, "Active government support is desperately needed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.