Expectations grow over resumption of Jeju-China direct flights

Airlines are preparing to resume direct flights between Jeju Island and Chinese cities as China's COVID-19 infection wave and virus situation seems to have entered a phase of stabilization. Jin Air, Korean Air's budget airline, is preparing to resume its flights between Jeju Island and the Chinese city of Xi'an based on the belief that the operation of the flights may be possible starting from next month at the earliest. "We are keenly monitoring related situations both in Korea and China," a Jin Air official said. Hong Kong Express Airways is also preparing to operate flights between Jeju Island and Hong Kong from late next month. The resumption will be decided after the government lifts its Jan. 2 measure, which restricted all flights arriving from China to landing at Incheon International Airport only. This measure was enforced as part of tightened curbs on travelers entering from China amid a surge in coronavirus infections in that country. According to sources in the airline industry, the government is expected to lift the measure soon as China's COVID-19 numbers have continued decreasing in recent weeks. The ratio of infected patients among travelers inbound from China has continued to fall for five consecutive weeks and reported 0.7% in the second week of February, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Amid the downward trend, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has actively asked the government to lift more COVID-19 curbs so as to attract back more Chinese tourists. According to the province, some 11,000 Chinese tourists visited Jeju Island last year, down 99% from the 1.13m tallied in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.<br/>