Korean Air to launch extra charter flights on Hong Kong and Bangkok routes

Korean Air is launching extra charter flights on popular Hong Kong and Bangkok routes. A total of 20 extra flights are scheduled for the Hong Kong route starting from Jan. 27 to Feb. 10, 2003. Of 20 flights, 15 will be operated by B747-400 and the rest will be done by B777-200. Charter flights to Bangkok already began operation from Jan. 5 and are scheduled to continue operation until Feb. 2. With two weekly flights, a total of seven flights will be operated by the B747-400.

With such increase in seat supply, Korean Air is hoping to meet the increase in demand during the peak travel periods, while increasing sales for routes to SE Asian destinations. Moreover, by maximizing the use of aircraft during nighttime, Korean Air will be able to utilize aircraft more efficiently and thus increase revenue.

Load factor for Hong Kong flights in 2002 was 91 percent with the addition of 36 extra charter flights. About the same figure, 90 percent is expected for the lunar new year with added seats of 13,700. Also, with the significant increase in the number of passengers travelling in groups, the reservation rates to Bangkok have been gradually climbing in recent years. The increased flights to Hong Kong are mainly targeted at the visitors travelling to Korea during the lunar new year, while the extra flights to Bangkok are targeted at the leisure travelers.

According to the Passenger Business Department, in spite of factors possibly affecting air travel, such as the threat of war with Iraq, travel to SE Asian destinations has increased up to 15 percent. There has been an 18 percent increase in the number of passengers on board during the month of  December alone. This increase is mainly due to the increased number of leisure travelers and in-group travelers to SE Asian destinations.