Asiana feels chill in air travel from frosty South Korea-Japan ties

Asiana Airlines said Tuesday it plans to switch to smaller planes for some of its Japan routes starting September due to declining demand amid a worsening diplomatic and economic row between South Korea and Japan. The carrier does not currently have plans to discontinue any routes to Japan, but it is monitoring the situation, a spokesman at the airline said. Asiana said it will fly smaller aircraft for 3 routes to Japan's Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa departing from Seoul. 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. The ill-feeling has led to a widespread boycott of Japanese products and services, including air travel. <br/>