Korea-China Skies Reopen After Seven Years — New Direct Flights Launch from Busan, Daegu and Muan

Several Chinese cities that previously required a connection through Incheon International Airport will now be reachable directly from regional airports. On September 16, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport allocated 25 international air route rights to 10 domestic carriers, sharply expanding Korea-China routes for the first time in seven years, since 2019.

For travelers flying to or from Korea's regional cities, this means more options to travel directly without a transfer. Notably, Yangyang International Airport, which had gone without international flights for nearly four years, will resume international service via low-cost carriers on routes to Shanghai and Hangzhou. At Incheon, seat capacity on the Beijing and Shanghai routes will also expand as more low-cost carriers enter those routes.

As routes multiply and competition among low-cost carriers intensifies, ticket prices could also be affected. However, actual launch dates and fares will vary by airline announcement, so it's advisable to check each airline's website for a new route's start date before booking.