Korean Air intends to boost its networks in the Japan and mainland China markets in the third quarter of 2023, as it rebuilds its international capacity closer to pre-pandemic levels.

The carrier is restarting one of its pre-COVID mainland China routes this month, with another two following in September. It will also resume two Japan routes in September.

These changes, along with other frequency increases, will raise Korean Air’s weekly flights to Japan to 96.5% of pre-pandemic levels by October, the airline told Aviation Daily. Mainland China flight frequencies are set to reach 55.6% by October.

Overall, Korean Air’s international capacity—in terms of available seat kilometers—has reached 82% of 2019 levels in July.

In the mainland China market, Korean Air restarted its Seoul-Changsha route on July 19, with flights from Seoul to Wuhan due to resume on Sept. 24, and from Seoul to Weihai on Sept. 27.

The relaunched Japanese routes are Busan-Fukuoka and Busan-Nagoya, both starting Sept. 27. These flights will use Boeing 737-900ERs. The carrier said the additional Busan flights will help support the government’s bid to hold the World Expo in Busan in 2030.

Korean Air has implemented frequency increases on several routes in its North American, European and Asian networks in July.

In the U.S., Korean has added 1-2 weekly frequencies on its Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco routes in July. According to data from CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG, Korean Air is now operating 93.4% of its capacity to the U.S. when compared to the same point in 2019.