South Korea’s Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province, which had been struggling to keep international traffic, is gradually restoring its reputation as an international airport thanks to China Eastern Airlines’ decision to resume regular flights between the airport and Shanghai.

According to South Jeolla provincial government on Thursday, China Eastern Airlines has resumed regular flights from Shanghai in China to Muan on Wednesday after its flights between the two cities were suspended due to the diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing over the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system. The reopening of the route has led Muan International Airport to handle the largest international flight capacity since its opening in 2007.

With the resumption of China Eastern Airline’s Shanghai-Muan route, Muan International Airport now serves as a gateway to eight regular international routes including those to and from Osaka in Japan, Danang in Vietnam, and Bangkok in Thailand, operating 25 times a week.

Korea Express Air is also expected to launch regular flights from Muan to Kitakyushu, Japan, which had been offered as irregular flights, while Pan Pacific Airlines from Muan to Boracay and Cebu. Korea’s budget carriers Jeju Air and T’way Air are also known to be preparing to launch regular international flights departing from Muan as they struggle to expand new routes amid growing competition among carriers at major Incheon International Airport and Jeju International Airport.

Meanwhile, Muan International Airport has handled more than 83,000 passengers in January and February, up 20,000 from the same period a year ago. The South Jeolla provincial government expected that the airport will serve more than 500,000 passengers this year amid expansion of international flights. As part of efforts to boost the airport’s service, the regional government plans to offer more intercity buses from the airport heading to major cities Gwangju, Mokpo, and Muan, and also make sure that construction of the new Honam high-speed railway that stops at Muan International Airport will be completed on schedule.

By Park Jin-joo and Lee Eun-joo

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