Korean Air, the biggest airline of South Korea, has resumed flights between Incheon to Vietnam’s central beach city of Danang, starting from June 22.

The carrier’s flight KE9463 departed from Incheon International Airport with over 200 passengers on board and landed at Danang International Airport yesterday night.

The flight marked Korean Air’s resumption of direct flights to Danang City followin a long shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And a welcome ceremony for the passengers was held at Danang Airport's T2 Terminal.

South Korean passengers welcomed at Danang International Airport. Photo: Luu Huong

Deputy Director of the Danang Department of Tourism Nguyen Xuan Binh said that direct working sessions between Danang’s leaders and representatives of major international airlines within the framework of the Asia Routes Development Forum 2022 have a positive impact on the resumption of flights to the central city.

Korean Air was one of the first two South Korean airlines to fly to Danang, creating a breakthrough for the market, Binh said, expressing his belief that the return of the Korean Air will further boost the recovery of the city’s  tourist market.

Chung Eui-seock, chief representative of Korean Air in Danang, said after restarting charter flights, Korean Air plans to operate one regular flight per day on the route between Incheon and Danang from July 27.

After that, Korean Air will operate two charter flights per week to Danang on Wednesdays and Saturdays in anticipation of the increasing demand of passengers.

The carrier expects flights to be at full capacity, Chung Eui-seock said, adding that Korean Air, with five-star flights, will offer interesting and memorable journeys to Danang City.

South Korea is a key source market for Danang as the city is an attractive destination for South Korean tourists, accounting for more than half of all international arrivals to the city prior to Covid-19. Danang expects this major market to quickly recover in the remaining months of this year.

The number of foreign visitors to Danang has shown signs of strong growth after the success of the Asia Routes Development Forum 2022 with the opening of flight routes by Malaysia Airlines, Air Seoul, and Bangkok Airways.

Since March 2022, as many as 35,000 foreign passengers have arrived in Danang on 286 flights, including 71 flights from the South Korea.

In 2019, prior to Covid-19, Danang welcomed nearly 1.8 million tourists from South Korea, arriving on more than 200 flights a week. 

So far, only the Incheon - Danang air route has reopened, with six flights a week. Six airlines are scheduled to resume flights to Danang in October, connecting it to major South Korean cities on about 50 flights a week.