Prague Airport is resuming a regular flight to Seoul, South Korea
Today, Prague Airport has prepared good news for everyone who likes to travel to Asia. The direct connection between the Czech capital and Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is returning, which will be provided by the carrier Korean Air. The last regular flight to this destination was in March 2020, but then the coronavirus pandemic put an end to it.
“This is an important milestone not only on the way to resuming operations and returning to the numbers from 2019, but also as part of building a network of direct routes to Asia. South Korea ranks among the markets with the highest demand from the Asian region,” comments Jiří Pos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport, adding that the restoration of this long-distance connection is one of the highest priorities.
The first renewed direct service between Prague and Seoul, operated by Korean Air’s Boeing 777-300ER with a capacity of 291 seats, is scheduled for Monday 27 March, with the route usually operating three times a week – every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There is also an increase in frequency to four times a week during the summer season, but this will depend on the development of demand.
“Prague, which boasts a century of history and rich cultural heritage, is the flagship of Korean Air’s destinations in Central Europe. The renewal of this line gives us the opportunity to pick up where we left off and actively participate in the development of both countries in many different sectors.” mentions Korean Air’s Jeong-soo Park.
In 2019, the connection from Prague to Seoul was very successful – over 190,000 people traveled in both directions. In total, the Czechia recorded around 387,000 arrivals from South Korea in 2019, only 42,000 a year later due to the pandemic, and only eight,000 in 2021. “Tourists from Asia are key for the Czech tourism industry due to their high creditworthiness. The average daily expenditure is around four thousand crowns,” says Jan Herget, director of the CzechTourism agency.
With the renewal of the routes, the currently lacking capacity will be strengthened not only to South Korea, but also to other destinations in Asia with strong demand thanks to connecting flights from Seoul. These include Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia or Australia.
The airport in České Budějovice also prepared good news for passengers at the end of last year, which will launch its first flights to Greece and Turkey. This can be particularly useful for those who do not live in Prague, or does not dare to travel to Prague airport. Go to Prague I will also return the direct line to New York.