Korea may open Incheon-Ulaanbaatar route to budget carriers to address monopoly issue

South Korean budget carriers may get a chance to fly to Mongolia as the government plans to double flight capacity between the two capital regions from next summer and invite more airliners to the line currently serviced by full-service carriers Korean Air Lines and Asiana. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport on Thursday, Korea and Mongolia have recently agreed to double direct flight seats to and from Incheon and Ulaanbaatar from weekly 2,500 to 5,000 during peak June-September season from next year. The flight openings could become available beyond full-service carriers. Jeju Air had briefly operated irregular flight to Mongolia in 2019. Asiana Airlines was invited to run flights between the two capital regions from 2019 to address to monopoly issue from exclusive flight by Korean Air Lines since opening in 1995. But the monopoly issue reemerged as Asiana Airlines would go under Korean Air Lines. Since its launch, Asiana Airlines had charged fares 10% cheaper, sending Korean Air Lines to cut its rate 20%.<br/>