Following its merger with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air is set to launch a new route to Poland after recently initiating services to Portugal. This move is a preliminary step to expand its European routes post-merger.
Industry insiders indicated on June 23 that Korean Air will begin a new service to Lisbon, Portugal, in September, with scheduled charter flights operating for about a month. In May, the airline secured an operating license to fly to Poland four times a week.
Under current regulations, Korean Air must start operations within one year of obtaining the concession and operate for at least 20 weeks to retain it. The airline must, therefore, launch flights to Warsaw by May of next year to maintain its Polish license. “We are considering launching flights to Poland,” a Korean Air representative said.
Currently, Korean Air operates only cargo flights to Poland. Passengers traveling from South Korea to Poland must fly directly with LOT Polish Airlines or through another European country.
Poland is a significant Eastern European hub for batteries, defense, and construction industries. According to Statistics Korea, approximately 350 Korean companies are operating in Poland. Business opportunities are expected to increase, especially with the anticipated reconstruction of Ukraine. The Overseas Koreans Agency reports a 66% increase in the Korean population in Poland, rising from 2,635 in 2021 to 4,286 last year, comparable to the Korean populations in Spain (4,774) and Italy (4,499) in 2023.
As part of its merger with Asiana Airlines, Korean Air will transfer some of its European routes to T’way Air, reducing its European flights from August. The Rome route will be reduced from seven to four times a week starting in August and further to three times a week from October. Barcelona service will be discontinued in October. Frankfurt flights will operate four times a week in October and three times a week in November. The Paris route will maintain daily flights through October, then decrease to six times a week.
