For the upcoming winter season, Korean Air will resume services and increase capacity to China, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America and Oceania. On November 26, 2023, the carrier will also launch new service to Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
On Wednesday (October 4, 2023), Korean Air announced the restoration and expansion of their network for winter 2023/24 with resumed and increase services to destinations in China, Japan, Southeast Asia, North America and Oceania. The carrier will also introduce new scheduled service to Phu Quoc, Vietnam starting November 26, 2023. During September, Korean Air’s seat capacity (Available Seat Kilometers or ASK) reached around 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and is expected to reach 90 percent with the launch of the upcoming winter schedule.
As mentioned, the airline will launch new daily service to Phu Quoc in Vietnam on November 26th. Located in the westernmost part of southern Vietnam, Phu Quoc is known as ‘Pearl Island’ and is the country’s largest island. The island is a designated UNESCO biosphere reserve and features pristine white beaches and evergreen forests. Visitors will enjoy a range of marine activities, the national park and a selection of exceptional resorts. While the fun and sun destination is popular year-round, November is considered the best time to travel to Phu Quoc, as it marks the beginning of the dry season. Flights will depart Seoul Incheon at 15:45 and arrive in Phu Quoc at 19:50, while the return flights will take off from Phu Quoc at 21:20 and touch down in Seoul at 04:50+1.
After a hiatus of three years and seven months, Korean Air will also resume service to three cities in China and three cities in Japan. China service will include daily flights between Busan and Shanghai, and from Seoul Incheon to Xiamen, as well as four weekly flights between Incheon and Kunming. From late October, Korean Air will resume service from Seoul Incheon to Kagoshima, Niigata and Okayama in Japan with three weekly flights. Frequencies between Incheon and Beijing will also be increased from daily to 18 weekly flights, while Jeju-Beijing flights will increase from three to four weekly. Service between Seoul and both Shenzhen and Xian will also increase to daily from four times per week. Additionally, Korean Air will increase frequencies from Incheon to Wuhan from three to four, as well as to Hong Kong from two to four daily flights.
Frequencies will also be increased to Japanese destinations, with service from Seoul Incheon to both Osaka and Fukuoka increasing from three to four flights daily, and to Tokyo Narita to four daily from two. From December 27, 2023, the carrier will also increase service from Seoul to Nagoya to 17 times per week, up from twice daily. For Southeast Asia, Korean Air will increase frequencies on the Incheon-Bangkok route from three to five times daily, while Manil flights will increase for two to three times daily. Flights from Seoul Incheon to both Delhi and Kathmandu will also increase from three to four times weekly. Additionally, the route between Incheon and Chang Mai will increase from daily to double daily until March 2, 2024.
From November 10, 2023 through March 18, 2024, Korean Air will also increase frequencies from Seoul Incheon to both Auckland and Brisbane to daily service, up from five times per week. Service to Las Vegas, Nevada will also be expanded from four to five times weekly.
Source: Korean Air