South Korean flag carrier Korean Air announced on Saturday that it will suspend flights to China from August 1 to October 28, citing a significant drop in demand amid strained relations between the two countries. The airline said that it will suspend its daily flights between Seoul's Gimpo International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, as well as its flights between Gimpo and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.
Korean Air's decision comes after a number of other South Korean airlines have also announced plans to suspend flights to China. Asiana Airlines, for example, said that it will suspend its flights between Seoul and Beijing from July 6 to October 28. The drop in demand for flights to China is due to a number of factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the recent diplomatic spat between South Korea and China.
In May, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol made a comment that was interpreted by China as being critical of its handling of the Taiwan issue. China subsequently summoned South Korea's ambassador to Beijing to protest the comment. The strained relations between South Korea and China have also led to a decline in tourism between the two countries. In 2022, the number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea fell by 80% compared to 2019.
Korean Air's decision to suspend flights to China is a sign of the growing economic and political tensions between the two countries. It remains to be seen how long the suspension will last, but it is likely that the strained relations between South Korea and China will continue to have a negative impact on air travel between the two countries.