Korean Air has announced it will begin operating a new route between Incheon International Airport, Seoul (ICN) and Hiroshima Airport (HIJ). The route will be operated daily by Korean Air’s fleet of Airbus A321neo jets, and open Dec. 23. This is the latest in a series of expansions into the Japanese market, by Korean Air.
Why Is Korean Air Flying to Hiroshima?
HIJ will become the 16th Japanese destination to be served by Korean Air, with the majority being connected to the Korean flag carrier’s base at ICN.
Korean Air hopes the route will be popular among tourists looking to visit Hiroshima’s landmarks, such as the Itsukushima Shrine and the Peace Memorial Park.
When announcing the new route, the airline’s spokesperson said that,
“The new route will offer our customers a greater convenience when travelling to Hiroshima and the surrounding Chugoku region, while providing easier access to destinations across Western Japan.”
Korean Air will compete for passengers on the route with its largest national rival, Jeju Air.
The low-cost Korean airline already offers two flights per day between ICN and HIJ.
How Will the Service Work?
The new route will be operated by Korean Air’s fleet of 19 Airbus A321neo jets.
Each of these jets will hold 182 passengers, with eight being seated in business class.
The prioritization of economy-class capacity may be intended to ensure the new route becomes financially viable as a daily service, and to allow Korean Air to compete directly for passengers with low-cost rival Jeju Air.
The use of relatively fuel efficient A321neo jets will also minimise the financial risk of opening a new route, especially at a time when international fuel costs are relatively high.
Opening the route during the winter season will limit its initial popularity among tourists, but does allow Korean Air to potentially expand its number of services should demand rise next spring.
Korean Air’s Recent Expansion.
The announcement of the new route is the latest in a series of expansions to Korean Air’s Japanese operations.
On March 29, the airline increased its number of weekly flights from ICN to Okayama Airport (OKJ) from three to four, and the number of weekly flights between ICN and Aomori Airport (AOJ) from three to five.
Korean Air also announced Wednesday, Aug. 19, that it would operate three weekly flights between ICN and Melbourne Airport (MEL). This route would be open at the height of the Australian summer from December 2026 to March 2027.
These recent expansions, at a time when other airlines are reducing their number of services, showcase Korean Air’s confidence, both in the aviation market and in its own profitability.
Would you be excited to visit Hiroshima? Where would you want to fly to on Korean Air? Let us know in the comments.
