Transport ministry urged to do more for interests of domestic carriers
By Lee Hyo-sik
Air carriers are expressing frustration at France's recent decision not to increase the number of flights between Korea and France when the number of passengers has increased sharply in recent years.
The French government had initially agreed to increase the number of flights to 14 per week from the current 12 when the two sides met in June last year. But it changed its stance this time, saying now is not the time to do so, according to officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Carriers also appear to be disappointed with the transport ministry, saying the government should have pushed their French counterparts harder to make it more convenient for Korean travelers to visit the European nation.
Currently, Korean Air operates daily flights from Incheon to Paris, and Asiana Airlines five times a week, while Air France flies daily to Incheon from Paris.
Under the agreement, Korean carriers are allowed to fly to Paris a maximum of 12 times week and it is the same for French airlines. This means there is no room for Korean Air or Asiana Airlines to operate more flights to France, but Air France can add five more flights a week if it wants to.
"It is unfortunate that the French government refused to increase the number of flights between Korea and France," said an airline industry official, who declined to be named. "Last year, France had agreed to allow carriers to run more flights between the two nations, but it changed its mind without giving any logical explanations. It failed to serve the interests of market players."
It is a must for carriers to operate more flights between the two nations to meet growing travel demand, the official said.
He added France should more carefully look at market conditions and do what is the best for travelers and the airline industry.
According to the transport ministry, the number of travelers between Korea and France reached 587,000 in the first seven months of 2017, up from 497,000 in 2013. The occupancy rate on the Incheon-Paris route averaged 87 percent, one of the highest in the industry.
On June 23, 2016, the ministry issued a press release, saying the French government agreed in principle to extend the number of flights to 14 a week. But on Sept. 22, it said its French counterpart refused to keep its earlier promise, adding both sides failed to reach a consensus on the issue.
In its defense against growing criticism, the ministry said it did everything it could to persuade its French counterpart to extend the number of flights during the talks in Seoul on Sept. 20 and 21.
"We did our best to enable local carriers to fly more often to Paris," Kim Gyung-hee, director of the ministry's international air transport division, said. "But French officials showed a lukewarm attitude toward the idea as Air France still has five unused slots. When we meet next year, we will work harder to revise the aviation agreement with France."
France and Japan signed an open skies agreement, meaning Japanese and French carriers can freely increase or reduce the number of flights, depending on demand. In addition, France allows Chinese carriers to fly to Paris or other cities 126 times per week.
By Lee Hyo-sik
Air carriers are expressing frustration at France's recent decision not to increase the number of flights between Korea and France when the number of passengers has increased sharply in recent years.
The French government had initially agreed to increase the number of flights to 14 per week from the current 12 when the two sides met in June last year. But it changed its stance this time, saying now is not the time to do so, according to officials at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Carriers also appear to be disappointed with the transport ministry, saying the government should have pushed their French counterparts harder to make it more convenient for Korean travelers to visit the European nation.
Currently, Korean Air operates daily flights from Incheon to Paris, and Asiana Airlines five times a week, while Air France flies daily to Incheon from Paris.
Under the agreement, Korean carriers are allowed to fly to Paris a maximum of 12 times week and it is the same for French airlines. This means there is no room for Korean Air or Asiana Airlines to operate more flights to France, but Air France can add five more flights a week if it wants to.
"It is unfortunate that the French government refused to increase the number of flights between Korea and France," said an airline industry official, who declined to be named. "Last year, France had agreed to allow carriers to run more flights between the two nations, but it changed its mind without giving any logical explanations. It failed to serve the interests of market players."
It is a must for carriers to operate more flights between the two nations to meet growing travel demand, the official said.
He added France should more carefully look at market conditions and do what is the best for travelers and the airline industry.
According to the transport ministry, the number of travelers between Korea and France reached 587,000 in the first seven months of 2017, up from 497,000 in 2013. The occupancy rate on the Incheon-Paris route averaged 87 percent, one of the highest in the industry.
On June 23, 2016, the ministry issued a press release, saying the French government agreed in principle to extend the number of flights to 14 a week. But on Sept. 22, it said its French counterpart refused to keep its earlier promise, adding both sides failed to reach a consensus on the issue.
In its defense against growing criticism, the ministry said it did everything it could to persuade its French counterpart to extend the number of flights during the talks in Seoul on Sept. 20 and 21.
"We did our best to enable local carriers to fly more often to Paris," Kim Gyung-hee, director of the ministry's international air transport division, said. "But French officials showed a lukewarm attitude toward the idea as Air France still has five unused slots. When we meet next year, we will work harder to revise the aviation agreement with France."
France and Japan signed an open skies agreement, meaning Japanese and French carriers can freely increase or reduce the number of flights, depending on demand. In addition, France allows Chinese carriers to fly to Paris or other cities 126 times per week.
![[INTERVIEW] Virtual K-pop group MAVE: is more than just pretty pixels](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/bcc387606cf7451c94f51a5978960c9f.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] 'Cobweb' director questions meaning of cinema](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/a029c9ea411f4aef94c6310f6a7c3c54.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Seoul's increased art market momentum brings Sotheby's back to Korea](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/3439cc1e2d744b85ab81fdcf6f045ba5.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
