Korean Air will not operate planned charter flights between Seoul and Zagreb this October after the tour operator behind the service saw lower than expected demand. However, according to the “Croatia Aviation” portal, the carrier will run a series of charter flights to Dubrovnik on behalf of a Korean company that will be sending its employees on holiday to the Croatian seaside. The airline will operate a total of four flights to Dubrovnik with its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, which can seat between 277 and 291 passengers, depending on the configuration. The flights will run on November 4, November 9, November 14 and November 20.
Korean Air was initially to operate four charters from Seoul to Zagreb on behalf of Hanjin Travel, on September 30, October 7, October 14 and October 21. Services were to be maintained with the 218-seat Airbus A330-200 aircraft, however, the flights will not go ahead. The airline has not made a decision on whether it will resume scheduled operations to the Croatian capital next year. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Korean Air maintained seasonal flights between the two cities. The airline recently resumed operations on a number of its European destinations and announced the launch of a new service to nearby Budapest, lowering the chances of its return to Zagreb.
Korean Air launched year-round nonstop operations between Seoul and Zagreb in September 2018. Services were maintained with a triangle routing - Seoul - Zagreb - Zurich - Seoul - during the winter of 2018/19, while the flights were downgraded to seasonal in 2019. Summer capacity was to be increased in 2020 from the Airbus A330 to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. However, the flights never materialised due to the outbreak of Covid-19. During 2019, Korean Air handled 43.123 passengers between the two cities. Korean low cost carrier T’Way Air has previously said its plans to launch services to Zagreb. This year it took delivery of three wide-body A330-200 jets, although services to the Croatian capital are yet to be scheduled.