Korean Air Launches Incheon-Hiroshima Route

Korean Air is set to launch a new air route between Incheon and Hiroshima on December 23, bolstering its expansion of air connections to Japan. This strategic move aims to secure route competitiveness, not only for major cities but also for smaller regional cities, as travel demand to Japan continues to rise steadily. The Incheon-Hiroshima route will operate daily, with a 10:35 a.m. departure from Incheon International Airport to Hiroshima Airport, arriving at 12:15 p.m. The return flight departs Hiroshima Airport at 1:25 p.m., arriving in Incheon at 3:25 p.m. The Airbus A321neo, a cutting-edge aircraft, will serve this route.

This launch is part of Korean Air's broader effort to strengthen routes connecting Japan's regional cities. According to the summer schedule, the Incheon-Aomori route has been expanded to five flights per week, while the Niigata and Komatsu routes operate daily. The Incheon-Okayama route has also been increased to four flights per week.

Beyond this, Korean Air has intensively managed its flight supply according to the time of day, adding a late-night flight on the Incheon-Kansai route, a crucial hub within Japan. The aviation industry views Korean Air's actions as a strategy to capture the segmented demand of the Japanese travel market. As travel to smaller cities showcasing Japan's unique attractions has gained popularity beyond major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, Korean Air aims to boost its market share by expanding direct routes, with the Hiroshima launch marking the beginning of this strategy.