The first ever direct flight between Glasgow and Seoul, South Korea will take place at the beginning of August 2016. The charter service, operated by Korean Air and sister company Hanjin Travel, is being launched with a view to introducing further flights in 2017. The service will be operated using the Airbus A330 aircraft and will fly for three consecutive weeks with departures on August 5, 12 and 19, 2016.
The introduction of the route highlights the increase on passenger numbers for both airports. In 2015, Glasgow Airport reported a 13% increase in passenger numbers – their largest ever increase – with 8.7 million people using their services. In terms of international passengers, traffic at the airport increased by 16.8%.
Incheon International Airport, the largest airport in South Korea, recorded an 8.3% increase in passenger numbers for 2015 – with a total of 49.3 million people using the airport. From that total, the vast majority were international passengers, making up 48.7 million of the final figure. This means the international traffic for the airport has increased by 8.5%.
Routes such as this service to Seoul, has helped to make Glasgow Airport Scotland’s principal long-haul airport. 2015 is the airport’s fifth consecutive year of growth, with passenger numbers returning to pre-recession levels. Glasgow Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe, having secured 30 new routes and services in the last 12 months, out-performing its major rival, Edinburgh Airport in terms of tourism growth in Scotland. It is Scotland’s largest charter hub and serves more Scottish destinations than any other airport in the country, key to Scotland’s internal transport infrastructure.
Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, Amanda McMillan said: “To have secured what is Scotland’s first direct service to South Korea is a major milestone for Glasgow Airport and it is of huge significance to our tourism industry. The decision by Korean Air and its sister company Hanjin Travel to introduce this route reinforces Scotland’s global appeal as a tourist destination and it highlights the growth in demand we are experiencing from Asian tourists.”
The backer of these flights, Hanjin Travel, is one of South Korea’s leading travel companies and has played a major role in developing the country’s tourism industry. In recent years, it has been extending its European route network with the launch of similar charter services to Oslo and Marseille. Hanjin Travel officials confirm it has launched this short Glasgow service to test the market with a view to introducing further flights in 2017.
“Hanjin Travel has been instrumental in encouraging the growth of South Korea’s outbound tourism market and this service represents an important step in further strengthening Scotland’s ties with Asia," added McMillan.
The South Korea – UK market has been growing at an average annual rate of 5.5 per cent over the last ten years, according to MIDT data, reaching a high of almost 440,000 O&D passengers in 2014. The annual demand to and from Scotland is estimated to be over 15,000 bi-directional passengers.
Korean Air already provides a scheduled daily link between Incheon and London Heathrow and earlier this decade also offered flights into London Gatwick to meet growing demand – it will support this demand in summer 2016 by deploying the A380 on this route for the first time. British Airways and South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines also offer a daily schedule on the Incheon – Heathrow market; together all three carriers offer around 310,000 annual seats in each direction.
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