Flight Tickets in Summer Vacation Scarce

"It is too difficult to get flights during the vacation season."

With the summer vacation starting at the end of June, most of the tickets have already been purchased.

According to Korean Airlines, agents have stopped placing people on waiting lists. For the month of July, flights to Canada and various holiday destinations are fully booked.

Currently, tickets for Los Angeles and Bangkok are available only after mid-August.

Asiana Airlines reported that flights to Tokyo, Osaka, Guam, Saipan, Sydney and Los Angeles were fully booked through August.

In addition, domestic flights to Kangnung and Cheju-do are fully booked.

According to the Exit and Entry Control Bureau of Kimpo International Airport, the number of people leaving the nation reached 1.7 million at the end of May. The figure represented a 20 percent increase from the same time period last year. Domestic airlines reported a 16 percent increase in activity.

"There are numerous civil appeals requesting the removal of the waiting lists from travle agencies and several organizations," said a spokesperson from Korean Airlines.

There is some concern that airlines, hoping to maximize their boarding rate, might have overbooked flights to some destinations.

"The number of consumers who, despite having reserved a flight in advance, are unable to receive tickets is expected to skyrocket during the summer months,"said a person from Kimpo International Airport.

by Kim Tae-jin