Korean Air restores daily Jakarta flights amid Indonesia route competition

May 11 (Asia Today) -- Korean Air will restore daily flights between Seoul and Jakarta beginning next month, intensifying competition among South Korean carriers on one of Southeast Asia's most important business travel routes.

The Jakarta route is considered a key profit-generating market because of strong demand from corporate travelers, expatriates and Korean companies operating in Indonesia.

According to industry sources Sunday, Korean Air plans to operate flights between Incheon International Airport and Jakarta seven times a week beginning in June.

The airline had reduced operations to twice weekly after transferring part of its Indonesia route traffic rights and existing flight schedules to T'way Air earlier this year as part of regulatory remedies tied to Korean Air's merger with Asiana Airlines.

South Korean regulators had required the redistribution of some traffic rights and airport slots because of concerns that the merger could create excessive market concentration on certain international routes.

T'way Air currently operates the Incheon-Jakarta route five times weekly, while Asiana Airlines continues daily service.

Industry analysts said Korean Air's move reflects efforts to maintain its dominance in the Indonesian market and defend premium business travel demand despite operating under less favorable schedules.

A Korean Air official said the carrier secured new airport slots and plans to restore the route under expanded codeshare arrangements permitted through the South Korea-Indonesia aviation agreement.

"Beginning in June, we plan to restore the Jakarta route to daily operations in accordance with the bilateral aviation agreement and expanded codeshare allowances with Indonesian airlines," the official said.

Industry observers said revisions following 2024 aviation talks between South Korea and Indonesia loosened restrictions on codeshare frequency and route operations, giving Korean Air greater flexibility to expand service again.

However, Korean Air's previous prime-time departure and arrival slots were transferred to T'way Air, forcing the airline to operate overnight schedules instead.

Under the revised schedule, Korean Air flights will depart Incheon at 7:40 p.m. and arrive in Jakarta at 12:45 a.m. local time the following day. Return flights will depart Jakarta at 2:15 a.m. and arrive in Incheon at 11:30 a.m.

Analysts said the airline's decision to increase service despite the less desirable schedule highlights the continued strength of business travel demand on the Indonesia route.

According to South Korea's aviation portal system operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, passenger traffic on the Incheon-Jakarta route reached 121,642 travelers during the first quarter of this year, up 4.5% from a year earlier.

Industry officials said the expanded schedules offered by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and T'way Air will provide travelers with broader choices across multiple departure times.

Analysts also expect Korean Air to maintain Jakarta as a strategic core route even after fully integrating with Asiana Airlines.

A Korean Air spokesperson said the company plans to improve convenience for passengers traveling to Indonesia through expanded flight supply.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260511010002425