International Flights to Increase from May... 50% Recovery to Pre-COVID Levels by Year-End

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] By the end of this year, international flights are expected to recover to 50% of the level before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 6th, during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19, that it has agreed with quarantine authorities and related agencies to implement a three-phase ‘International Flight Gradual Normalization Plan.’ Before COVID-19, in 2019, South Korea operated 4,714 weekly international scheduled flights, but this month the number has been drastically reduced to 420 weekly flights (8.9%). The number of international arrivals per hour at Incheon International Airport has been limited from about 40 to 10. Currently, all international flight routes and operation scales are decided monthly through consultations with quarantine authorities.

According to this plan, the number of international scheduled flights will first increase by 100 weekly flights each month starting from May this year. It will rise to 520 weekly flights in May and 620 weekly flights in June. Additionally, the hourly arrival flight limit at Incheon Airport will be relaxed from 10 to 20 after two years, and the permit period for non-scheduled flights will be extended from one week to two weeks. Regional airports will also begin international operations in May at Muan, Cheongju, and Jeju Airports, followed by Gimpo and Yangyang Airports in June.

From July, the number of international scheduled flights will increase by 300 weekly flights each month. The weekly flights will reach 920 in July, 1,220 in August, 1,520 in September, 1,820 in October, and 2,120 in November, reaching 2,420 weekly flights in December, which is 51% of the level at the end of 2019. The hourly arrival flight limit at Incheon Airport will be expanded to 30, and operating hours at regional airports will be normalized. Restrictions on passenger load factors for flights from countries with high quarantine risk will also be lifted.

Finally, after COVID-19 becomes endemic, all aviation policies will return to normal. The international scheduled flight schedule will be approved twice a year, and the hourly arrival flight limit at Incheon Airport will be restored to 40, as in normal times.

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