S. Korean gov't allows gradual increase of international flights from May

코로나 감소세…다음달 미주·유럽 등 국제선 주간 100회씩 증편

With South Korea having passed the peak of this wave of the pandemic, the authorities have decided to approve a hundred more international flights each week going into this summer, and 300 more starting in July.
That'll bring the number of flights up to about half the number there were before the pandemic... as people start traveling again.
Choi Min-jung reports.
South Korean authorities have decided to drastically increase the number of international flights as COVID-19 infections are on a downward trend.

"The number of new infections has been declining for three straight weeks. The seven-day average for the latest week has dropped around 30-percent compared to the week before."

Jeon announced that starting next month,... international flights will be increased by a hundred a week, with more planes going to quarantine-free destinations like the U.S., Europe, Thailand, and Singapore.
Starting July,... there will be three hundred additional flights a week.

"With countries overseas lifting virus prevention rules after passing the Omicron peak,... we are expecting the demand for overseas travel to increase."

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport says it expects that by November, the operation of international flights will have recovered to around half the level seen before the pandemic.
While Korean Air and Asiana Airlines plan on increasing flights to Europe and North America,... low cost carriers are targeting Southeast Asia.

In line with the expansion, South Korea's local airports are preparing to gradually expand international routes too.
As of now, Gimhae and Daegu are the only airports to offer international flights,... apart from the country's main Incheon International Airport.
Starting in May, airports in Cheongju and Jeju Island will bring back overseas flights,... and operations will gradually resume in Gimpo as well.
Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

#COVID19 #international_flight #pandemic

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2022-04-06, 17:00 (KST)