New Links Between Seoul and Beijing Planned

Civil aviation authorities in China and South Korea have tentatively agreed to the opening of direct air services between Gimpo International Airport in Seoul and Beijing Capital International Airport. There are currently more than 185 weekly flights to Beijing from Seoul, but passengers currently have to travel to Incheon International Airport, about 32 miles (52km) west of the South Korean capital, with an estimated 1.25 million O&D passengers travelling on this route in the past year.

Under this new agreement, two airlines from China and two from South Korea will be permitted to offer flights from Gimpo, which is located closer to downtown Seoul, and will offer passengers considerable convenience in terms of saving time and economic costs, according to a joint statement from the ministries.

South Korea also expects the new flights, which will commence in July, will help attract more Chinese tourists to the country. In 2010, South Korea welcomed some 1.88 million Chinese tourists, up 40 per cent on the year before.