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Busan to receive first long-haul flight
June 14th 2019
Finnair granted traffic rights for three weekly flights. Read More »
Busan will finally receive its long-sought goal of long-haul flights after Korea reportedly granted Finnair traffic rights for three weekly Busan-Helsinki services from 2020.
Lufthansa had operated to Busan, but via Seoul in both directions. Finnair’s flight would be the first non-stop.
Korea has been debating hub strategy in the wake of intense competition in Northeast Asia. One argument favoured Korea’s traffic to be concentrated at Seoul Incheon rather than fragmented across the country. This has not been warmly received by Busan or Korea Airports Corporation, which manages Busan.
The decision was announced during a Finnish state visit to Korea. President Moon remarked in translated comments from Yonhap: “Busan is Korea’s port city and my hometown…the new route between Busan and Helsinki will be held…we will deepen friendship and trust.”
