South Korean carrier Asiana Airlines is resuming another international service to the Philippines by bringing back the Incheon-Clark flight. The airline had to suspend this route due to the slowdown in travel demand but is bringing it back as part of its network expansion. The latest service will begin in June and will be in addition to its existing services to Cebu and Manilla.

Incheon-Clark route to resume

Asiana Airlines will once again fly daily between Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Clark International Airport (CRK) in the Philippines, with daily service starting in the first week of June.

Route
Photo: Gcmap.com

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

The local airport management informed that Flight OZ 708 will leave ICN at 14:00 and arrive at CRK at 19:05. The return flight OZ 707 will depart at 21:55 and arrive at ICN at 01:50. Chief executive officer Noel Manankil of Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp (LIPAD), the private consortium that manages CRK, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA),

“We welcome the resumption of Asiana Airlines at CRK. We are happy Asiana Airlines is once again our partner in giving our travelers convenient access to South Korea and beyond.”

Still in the red

Asiana is catering to the rise in travel demand, particularly in Asia, as it tries to become a profitable business. However, weakened currency hurt the overall operating cost of the airline in Q1 of 2023.

Asiana A380 landing Frankfurt-1
Photo: Vytautas Kielaitis I Shutterstock

Despite posting an operating profit of approximately KRW166.82 billion ($124.59 million), the airline’s net losses increased to approximately KRW54.36 billion ($40.6 million), compared to KRW46.55 billion ($34.8 million) in the corresponding period last year.

The airline attributed this mainly to the weakening of the country’s currency, saying that the Korean Won's weakness against the dollar pushed up jet fuel prices, maintenance, and other airport-related costs. All these weighed heavily on its quarterly bottom line.

Challenges to the merger with Korean Air

Meanwhile, its merger with Korean Air continues to face challenges from several quarters, with the European Union (EU) saying that the acquisition of Asiana may restrict competition in the passenger and cargo markets for services between South Korea and the European Economic Area (EEA).

Asiana Airlines and Korean Air aircraft
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Find more news about Asian aviation here.

Some regions are still left to approve the merger, and the EU is concerned that the deal may reduce competition in providing passenger transport services on four routes between South Korea and France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

The US, too, is not particularly happy with the proposed union, with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) contemplating a lawsuit against the merger to block the deal from progressing any further.

What are your views on this? Please leave a comment below.

  • Asiana Airlines Tile
    Asiana Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    OZ/AAR
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Incheon International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1988
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Han Chang-soo
    Country:
    South Korea
    Region:
    Asia