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May 29, 2018 (newstodate): Finnair is ready to launch flights from Helsinki to Busan in South Korea, but the road is bumpy for opening Busan for international flights.
According to Kim Dong-hwan, Finnair Korea General Manager, Finnair would operationally be ready to launch flights to Busan already before the end of 2018, as reported by Korea Times.
Korean, however, maintains a strict focus on Seoul Inchon Airport as its so far only international hub, and no international flights have so far been allowed into Busan Gimhae Airport serving the country's 2nd largest city that is today served only with short-haul regional flights.
Opening Busan Gimhae Airport is supported by both the regional government and KAC that manages the airport - but a decision rests with the country's regulatory body, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, that seems intent on keeping Seoul Incheon Airport as the only long-haul hub for fear of fragmentation of the country's aviation. infrastructure to the detriment of the country's own airlines, Korean Air and Asiana.
According to Korea Choongang Daily, Finnair has revealed its plan to increase the frequency on the route between Helsinki and Incheon and launch a new thrice-weekly service to Busan, South Korea's second largest city and largest seaport.
The existing air services agreement between Finland and South Korea, allows for only seven weekly rotations, so adding flights to Busan would require a revision of the air services agreement between the two countries.
As the first airline to fly non-stop to South Korea from Northern Europe, Finnair launched flights to Korea in June 2008 with four weekly rotations, now offering a daily flight on the route.
According to Kim Dong-hwan, Finnair Korea General Manager, Finnair would operationally be ready to launch flights to Busan already before the end of 2018, as reported by Korea Times.
Korean, however, maintains a strict focus on Seoul Inchon Airport as its so far only international hub, and no international flights have so far been allowed into Busan Gimhae Airport serving the country's 2nd largest city that is today served only with short-haul regional flights.
Opening Busan Gimhae Airport is supported by both the regional government and KAC that manages the airport - but a decision rests with the country's regulatory body, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, that seems intent on keeping Seoul Incheon Airport as the only long-haul hub for fear of fragmentation of the country's aviation. infrastructure to the detriment of the country's own airlines, Korean Air and Asiana.
According to Korea Choongang Daily, Finnair has revealed its plan to increase the frequency on the route between Helsinki and Incheon and launch a new thrice-weekly service to Busan, South Korea's second largest city and largest seaport.
The existing air services agreement between Finland and South Korea, allows for only seven weekly rotations, so adding flights to Busan would require a revision of the air services agreement between the two countries.
As the first airline to fly non-stop to South Korea from Northern Europe, Finnair launched flights to Korea in June 2008 with four weekly rotations, now offering a daily flight on the route.