April 25, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] South Korean airlines have decided to cut China-bound flights as the number of Chinese tourists has decreased following South Korea’s decision to deploy THAAD, local reports said on March 15.

The airlines will temporarily decrease flights until April but will take further measures if the Chinese tourist demand continues to fall. 

Korean Air, the nation’s largest airline company, will cut 79 flights that cover 12 destinations in China from March 16 to April 23. This accounts for 6.5 percent of the company’s total flights to the country.

Asiana Airlines will reduce 90 flights that cover 12 routes to China from March 15 to April 30, according to the company.

Some budget carriers also plan to cut their China-bound flights. Jin Air will reduce the Jeju-Shanghai route services that are currently operating seven times a week to four, while Tway Air and Eastar Jet will cancel most of their flights.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government on March 15 announced a set of seven measures that ban Chinese travel agencies from selling trips to South Korea, which includes group tours, individual travels made through travel agencies and cruise stopovers.

By Park Yuna (yunapark@heraldcorp.com)