Korean Air to expand flights to Japan after integration with Asiana

Korean Air, the largest airline in South Korea, acquired second-ranking Asiana last December.

According to Choi, Korean Air currently operates 21 routes to connect 14 cities in Japan and South Korea.

After the planned brand integration with Asiana, the figure will increase to 24 and 17, respectively, he said in an interview with Jiji Press.

Including Jin Air, a Korean Air subsidiary, and Air Seoul, an Asiana unit, the number will increase further, to 33 and 23, respectively, with that of roundtrip services set to rise to about 110 a day.

He said that Korean Air already operates the largest number of flights to and from Japan among all airlines, emphasizing its plans to expand its services further following the integration.

Offering flights to local cities in Japan is contributing to the development of local economies in the country, such as by boosting the tourism industry, Choi added.

Backed by the improvement of Japan-South Korea ties, the flow of people between the two countries is increasing.

Choi predicted that the number of people traveling between Japan and South Korea will hit a record high of more than 13 million this year, up from about 12 million in 2024.

Of the expected total, over 3.5 million Japanese are likely to visit South Korea, and more than 9.5 million South Koreans are seen traveling to Japan, according to Choi.

Japan, with its diverse tourism resources, is a very appealing destination for South Koreans, and short-term trips to Japan are also possible due to its geographical proximity to South Korea, Choi said.