Korean Air has reduced flights to Japan and expanded cargo services to Southeast Asia and South America in the wake of a second trade war front opening up over the summer.
With demand impacted by both the US-China dispute and an emerging trade spat between South Korea and Japan, the carrier said it had reduced or suspended a string of passenger flights to Japan from September, while launching twice-weekly freighter services to Manila and Bangkok.
Korean Air’s first-half cargo volumes have dropped, with freight-tonne km falling 10.7 per cent year on year, and revenue down 9.6 per cent to KRW1.27tr (US$1.18bn). The drop in demand at the start of the year led the carrier to suspend cargo operations at three domestic hubs.