T’way Air, aiming to start Paris flights by late June, faces significant uncertainty as local approval is pending. Delays in the approval of the merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines in the United States are also disrupting T’way’s flight schedules.
According to the aviation industry on May 29, Korean Air recently dispatched 20 out of the 100 pilots it pledged to support to T’way. These pilots will be dedicated to operating T’way’s flights on four European routes—Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Frankfurt—that T’way will take over from Korean Air. The budget carrier is also conducting European flight training for its existing pilot workforce.
T’way plans to lease five A330-200 aircraft from Korean Air for its European operations, with one recently completed interior and exterior upgrades at Korean Air’s tech center in Gimhae. While T’way is preparing for Paris flights as planned, it has yet to finalize the fares, typically announced three months before commencement.
French aviation authorities view T’way’s Paris operations as a violation of the current Korea-France aviation agreement, which permits only “one airport, two airlines.” According to French aviation authorities, respecting the existing agreement is paramount, even with route transfer considerations. With Korean Air and Asiana Airlines currently serving the route, adding T’way would make it three airlines, which is against the agreement.
Korean Air appears committed to maintaining its Paris route until the merger is finalized, as losing it post-transfer would mean missing out on key routes if the U.S. fails to approve the merger. Anticipation is also high for increased demand during the Paris Olympics in July.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korean Air are discussing with French aviation authorities whether to revise the agreement or temporarily allow three airlines until the merger is finalized. A ministry official said a conclusion will be reached soon.
A T’way staffer said, “We are in discussions with the aviation authorities of both countries and preparing for commencement accordingly,” adding, “We will announce flight schedules once approval for Paris flights is obtained.”
