Korean Air to cut flights to Japan as diplomatic row hits demand

Korean Air Lines said Monday it will suspend flights between the South Korean city of Busan and Japan's Sapporo from Sept 3, due to lean demand amid a worsening diplomatic and economic row between the two nations. Last month, Japan tightened controls of exports of high-tech materials to South Korea, in apparent retaliation for a South Korean court ruling over wartime forced labour. Such disputes have prompted a widespread boycott of Japanese products and services, from beer to clothes and travel in South Korea. The move added chaos to the airline and tourism industries, which were already grappling with rising competition and falling travel demand to Japan - a destination popular among younger tourists. Koreans are the second-largest travellers to Japan only after China, accounting for 24.2% of footfalls last year. <br/>