South Korea and China Expand Air Traffic Rights to Meet Surging Demand
South Korea and China have agreed to expand their bilateral air traffic rights for the first time since 2019, as travel demand between the two countries surpasses pre-pandemic levels. According to South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the agreement increases available frequencies from 662 to 732 per week. This includes 56 additional passenger frequencies, raising the total from 608 to 664 weekly services, and 14 additional cargo frequencies, increasing the total from 54 to 68 per week. The expansion comes as passenger traffic between the countries reached 4.4 million travelers in the first quarter of 2026, exceeding the 4.1 million passengers recorded during the same period in 2019. The agreement also increases weekly frequency limits on major routes such as Seoul Incheon-Beijing and Seoul Incheon-Shanghai, and enhances connectivity for regional airports in South Korea. 
