T'way Air Launches New Incheon-Mongolia Route in July... "Travel Convenience Increased with A330 Wide-body Aircraft Deployment"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] T'way Air will begin operating flights to Mongolia starting this July.

T'way Air announced on the 20th that it will be the first domestic low-cost carrier (LCC) to deploy the large 347-seat A330-300 aircraft, launching a thrice-weekly Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route starting from August 6.

The flight schedule departs Incheon Airport at 11:00 AM and arrives at Ulaanbaatar Airport at 1:40 PM. The return flight leaves at 3:10 PM and arrives at 7:15 PM. The flight time is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. The time difference is one hour behind Korea.

Notably, since the 1st of this month, visa-free entry within 90 days is allowed for Mongolia. There is no need for COVID-19 testing or quarantine, allowing travelers to enjoy their visit comfortably.

Mongolia, known for its cool weather even in summer, is a popular destination for tourists from June to September. It is a favored summer destination where visitors can experience unique accommodations in traditional Mongolian dwellings called gers on the vast steppes and explore both urban and natural tourist sites.

Popular attractions include the Mongolian National Museum, State Department Store, and Art Gallery in Ulaanbaatar, as well as desert trekking and stargazing at Elsen Tasarkhai. The oasis-like Ugi Lake in the Mongolian grasslands and Terelj National Park, Mongolia's premier resort area, also offer a deep connection with nature.

The recently opened Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route operates with the A330-300 aircraft, offering one-way total fares (including fuel surcharges and airport taxes) starting at 269,600 KRW for economy class and 679,600 KRW for business class. The travel period is from July 6 to September 28.

This Ulaanbaatar route is the third international route to deploy the large A330-300 aircraft introduced this year, following Singapore and Bangkok. Compared to the existing B737 aircraft, the economy seats provide approximately 2 to 3 inches more legroom, offering a more comfortable and pleasant travel experience.

Additionally, the business class features 12 premium flat-bed seats with upgraded international flight benefits including checked baggage allowance of 23kg per bag for 3 bags totaling 69kg, carry-on baggage allowance of 10kg for 2 bags, priority boarding and deplaning, dedicated check-in counters, priority baggage handling, and in-flight meals with differentiated services.

Economy class passengers can also enjoy an upgraded checked baggage allowance from the standard 20kg for 1 bag to 46kg total for 2 bags as part of the route launch promotion.

Moreover, as a commemorative event, customers paying over 300,000 KRW with T'way Pay (Samsung Card) will receive a 50,000 KRW discount, and those paying over 600,000 KRW will receive a 100,000 KRW discount.

T'way Air plans to increase transportation revenue by expanding its cargo business on the Mongolia route. Since Mongolia imports many daily necessities and miscellaneous goods, the airline intends to continue expanding its cargo operations using the A330 belly cargo, which can carry over 15 tons of freight.

A T'way Air official stated, “As the first LCC to operate a Mongolia route with a large aircraft, we will provide consumers with reasonable fares and services to bring new changes to Mongolia travel. In the endemic era, we will continue to expand air routes and strive to enhance travel convenience for our customers.”

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