Hyun-Ju Han

Global Economic News

SOUTH KOREAN airlines plan to resume international flights that have ceased due to the COVID-19 outbreak, starting from tourist cities such as Guam and Saipan.

Flights are expected to resume in about a year since the Incheon-Guam-Saipan route was suspended due to the pandemic in March last year.

Jeju Arilines will resume flights between Incheon and Saipan on June 8. Further schedules will be finalized based on market conditions. Asiana Airlines is planning to resume flights to Saipan next month.

T’way Air and Air Seoul applied to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for permission to operate Incheon-Guam route. Jeju Airlines also considers operating flights to Guam and will apply for flight permission soon.

Korean Air has begun to sell tickets for the Incheon-Guam route. Jin Air is currently operating the Guam route once a week.

The specific flight schedules can be adjusted depending on the airlines and local situation.

The reason that airlines resume flights to Guam and Saipan preferentially is because many of passengers are South Korean tourists.