The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on September 16 that it has allocated traffic rights for 25 international aviation routes, centered primarily on Chinese routes, to 10 domestic airlines.

This allocation focuses on expanding international routes between the two countries in response to the recent rise in passenger demand between South Korea and China, as well as increasing international flights from regional airports.

Previously, through aviation talks, South Korea and China agreed to expand traffic rights for the first time in 7 years, dating back to 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

By airline, Parata Airlines secured Incheon-Shanghai and Incheon-Hangzhou (4 flights per week each), and Yangyang-Shanghai and Yangyang-Hangzhou (3 flights per week each). Eastar Jet secured Incheon-Beijing (7 flights per week), Incheon-Nanjing (3 flights per week), and Daegu-Beijing (3 flights per week).

Jeju Air was allocated Incheon-Beijing (7 flights per week), Incheon-Changsha (4 flights per week), and Muan-Shanghai (3 flights per week).

Aero K received Muan-Beijing (3 flights per week), Muan-Yanji and Muan-Zhangjiajie (2 flights per week each), Cheongju-Dalian (3 flights per week), and regional Mongolian routes excluding Ulaanbaatar from Cheongju (7 flights per week each).

Air Busan received Busan-Chengdu and Busan-Harbin (4 flights per week each), while Jin Air received Busan-Hangzhou (2 flights per week) and Incheon-Guangzhou (7 flights per week).

Trinity Airlines (formerly T'way Air) received Incheon-Dalian (7 flights per week), Daegu-Xiamen (3 flights per week), along with South Korea-Czech Republic (3 flights per week) traffic rights, and Air Premia was allocated Incheon-Shanghai (3 flights per week).

Korean Air secured year-round traffic rights for Incheon-Ulaanbaatar (2 flights per week).

Amid the upcoming merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines in December, the ministry allocated traffic rights for major Chinese routes departing from Incheon Airport, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Dalian, to low-cost carriers (LCCs).

Among the 7 Incheon-originating Chinese routes granted traffic rights this allocation, low-cost carriers currently do not operate on Beijing, Guangzhou, Dalian, Nanjing, Changsha, and Hangzhou routes, excluding Shanghai.

A ministry official explained in a phone call with Yonhap News, "In accordance with the traffic rights allocation rules, we introduced new airlines to promote competition and protect consumer rights."

Traffic rights for Incheon-Beijing will increase from 38 to 52 flights per week, and Shanghai from 56 to 63 flights per week.

Guangzhou and Dalian will expand from 21 to 28 flights per week each, Nanjing from 11 to 14 flights per week, and Changsha and Hangzhou from 10 to 14 flights per week each.

With this traffic rights allocation, the establishment of new direct routes from Busan, Cheongju, and Daegu to major Chinese cities such as Chengdu, Harbin, Dalian, and Xiamen is expected.

Shanghai and Hangzhou routes have also been allocated to Yangyang Airport, where the resumption of international flights is anticipated around the end of this year for the first time in about 4 years.

Traffic rights connecting Muan Airport—where operations have been suspended since the December 29, 2024 Jeju Air passenger plane accident—to 4 Chinese cities were also allocated.

The Jeju Air pilots' union issued a statement protesting that proving whether Muan Airport is safe from risks such as bird strikes should take precedence over allocating traffic rights.

A ministry official stated, "The allocation of traffic rights and the resumption of operations at Muan Airport are unrelated, and the timing for resuming operations has not been determined."

Airlines are expected to receive slots (rights to operate at designated times assigned to airlines) from the respective airports and newly launch services starting from the next summer season.

The ministry also allocated newly secured traffic rights for the Czech Republic this year to expand Central European routes, while also distributing traffic rights connecting Chinese cargo hub airports such as Tianjin and Ezhou to support the expansion of supply chains for domestic import and export companies.

(Photo: Yonhap News)