Korean Air is returning to Rome and Barcelona

Korean Air Lines’ Boeing 787-9 [KOREAN AIR LINES]

Korean Air Lines will resume flights to Rome and Barcelona in September, two and a half years after they were suspended due to the pandemic.

The carrier will fly the Incheon-Rome route every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday starting Sept. 1. Flights between Incheon and Barcelona will run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from Sept. 2.

The two routes were suspended in March 2020.

“The European market is recovering faster than expected and we are seeing a strong comeback in travel demand,” said Kim Ju-min, general manager and director of Korean Air Lines’ western Europe regional office. “We will continue to closely monitor market trends and reinstate our remaining network accordingly as we work towards full recovery.”

Demand for Europe-bound flights has been picking with the arrival of summer vacation season.

The Ministry of Land and Transport aims to get international flights back to 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. However, the ministry announced in June that it would be happy to approve flights beyond the initial 50-percent goal if demand allows it.

“Korean Air Lines will increase the number of flights even more aggressively than the government’s plan,” said Park Sung-bong, an analyst at Hana Financial Securities. “The carrier will offer 50 percent of pre-pandemic international flights by September.”

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]