South Korea and Finland will hold aviation talks this month and decide whether to expand the number of direct flights between the two countries.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and multiple sources from the aviation industry on Friday, Korea and Finland transportation authorities will hold aviation talks on May 30. During the talks, they are expected to discuss possible addition of direct flights between the two countries.

Finland’s national carrier Finnair has been operating seven direct flights from Incheon to Helsinki each week since 2008. The Finnish government was reported to have requested the Korean government to double the number of passenger flights between the two nations by creating a new route that departs from the port city of Busan to Helsinki.

Busan Metropolitan City has been also putting out efforts to expand international flights departing from Gimhae International Airport in a bid to diversify mid- to long-haul routes. Busan city has even introduced legislation providing partial fare support to carriers introducing new flights from Gimhae.

Upon the request from Finland, the Korean government will review various options and make a decision, said an unnamed official from the transportation ministry. The aviation industry observers expect that the two countries would create three direct passenger flight services per week departing Busan to Helsinki.

Finland is a mid-size aviation market for Korea. Among flights departing Incheon to 19 European countries last year, the Helsinki route transported the 10th largest number of passengers. Helsinki airport serves as the gateway to northern European countries.

The number of passengers flying from Incheon to Helsinki has increased 13 percent over the past three years, but none of Korean flag carriers offers flight services between the two nations.

By Kim Jung-hwan

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