{
  "id": 16849649,
  "title": "Regional airports to expand international flights by 11.6% for winter season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/regional-airports-to-expand-international-flights-by-11-6-for-winter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T05:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/others/20261028/regional-airports-to-expand-international-flights-by-116-for-winter-season"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea Airports Corp. announced that international flights at regional airports will rise by 11.6% during the winter season, which runs from October 25 to March 27, 2027. Currently scheduled to operate 3,206 weekly flights, international services will see an additional 332 flights compared to the summer schedule. Domestic services will increase to 7,002 flights per week. The government aims to attract 30 million foreign visitors earlier than initially planned, and the expansion is facilitated by new airport slots at Gimhae and Cheongju airports.\n\nGimhae International Airport will see its hourly capacity increase from 27 to 30 flights per hour. Cheongju Airport's capacity will rise from eight to ten flights per hour. Southeast Asian routes will experience a 32.7% increase, going from 480 flights to 600 weekly. Services to China will grow by 17.5%, rising from 710 flights to 844 weekly. New China routes include Gimhae-Xiamen, Gimhae-Guangzhou, Cheongju-Xiamen, and Jeju-Shijiazhuang.\n\nIn addition to the schedule expansion, Gimhae Airport will launch daily charter flights to Tokyo's Haneda Airport starting in December.",
  "summary": "Korea Airports Corp., which operates 14 airports nationwide, said Wednesday that airlines will operate 10,208 scheduled flights a week during this winter season, which runs from Oct. 25 through March 27, 2027. International services will account for 3,206 weekly flights, up 11.6 percent, or 332 flights, from the summer schedule, while domestic services will total 7,002 flights a week. The…",
  "key_points": [
    "International flights at regional airports to increase by 11.6% for winter season",
    "Gimhae and Cheongju airports add new China routes and Southeast Asian services",
    "Gimhae Airport launches daily charter flights to Tokyo Haneda starting December"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Expanding capacity at Gimhae and Cheongju airports accelerates the government's goal of attracting foreign visitors by prioritizing increased flight frequencies to Southeast Asia and China.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}