Korean Air to resume long-haul flights as travel restrictions ease

South Korean flag carrier Korean Air will resume long-haul operations to Europe and North America, more than two years after the airline suspended flights after experiencing several setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Korean Air will gradually resume flights from the beginning of July 2022. Starting July 1, the airline will offer three flights a week to Vienna, Austria and Milan, Italy. The airline will restore three flights a week between Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) and Las Vegas, the United States from July 10.

The news comes just one month after the airline announced that it expects its passenger business to quickly recover from the global health crisis as more countries continue to ease entry restrictions and re-open airspace.

According to its Q1 2022 financial report, Korean Air’s passenger flight operations generated a revenue of KRW 359.8 billion ($285 million).

“The recovery of passenger demand will vary by route and region, and the airline will closely monitor and flexibly respond to the market and changing quarantine policies of its network,” the airline outlined in the report.

On March 21, 2022, South Korea lifted the mandatory quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers, helping to boost travel demand.