Daegu International Airport Expands China Connectivity, with Beijing and Xiamen Flights Three Times a Week

【Financial News Daegu = Kim Jang-wook】Daegu International Airport is set to significantly expand its air connectivity with China. 
The expansion of China-focused routes is expected to ease pent-up demand for overseas travel among local residents and signal positive prospects for attracting more foreign tourists. 
According to Daegu Metropolitan City and other sources, efforts on multiple fronts to expand international routes at Daegu International Airport are beginning to produce tangible results.
Mayor Choo Kyung-ho said at the meeting, "Securing traffic rights in the second half of this year and increasing irregular flights to China will be an important turning point in enhancing Daegu International Airport’s competitiveness in international routes. We will continue to pursue proactive policies to encourage airlines to open new routes and make every effort to provide convenient air connectivity that residents can experience firsthand."
Under MOLIT’s second-half allocation of international air traffic rights, Daegu International Airport secured additional major routes, including Beijing operated by Eastar Jet three times a week and Xiamen operated by TRINITY AIR WAYS three times a week. The move lays the groundwork for the airport to become a global hub.
Beijing, China’s capital and political and economic center, is also highly significant economically because the direct route has been consistently requested by local companies for their overseas business activities.
Xiamen, a major port city in southern China, is known for its beautiful coastal roads and well-preserved European-style buildings. With its mild year-round climate, exotic scenery, and clean streets, it is a resort city where many Chinese people would most like to live.
Daegu Metropolitan City also plans to operate irregular flights in stages from the 23rd to major Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Shijiazhuang, and Guilin. The airport’s route network is therefore expected to become even more robust.
Chengdu is a dynamic economic city that is home to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and historical sites associated with the Three Kingdoms period, including Wuhou Shrine. This will be the first flight operation since Daegu Metropolitan City and Chengdu established a sister-city relationship in November 2015 and agreed to open a direct route in April 2024. The service is expected to further promote exchanges between the two cities.
Shijiazhuang is the closest gateway to the Taihang Grand Canyon, known as China’s Grand Canyon. With its magnificent gorges and natural scenery, it attracts a steady stream of hikers and trekking tourists.
Guilin is surrounded by distinctive and beautiful karst formations. Its spectacular natural scenery, where unusual rock formations meet clear rivers, has made it a consistently popular destination for family-oriented nature tourism.
Kim Soon-deok, head of the Daegu Airport Revitalization Team, explained, "We have pursued a range of initiatives to revitalize the airport and expand local residents’ right to mobility, including stronger incentive support for airlines. As a result, Eastar Jet and Jeju Air were allocated traffic rights for the Shanghai route in the first half of this year. In the second half, we secured traffic rights for major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Xiamen, and also succeeded in bringing in irregular flights."
Kim added, "Residents of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province who previously had to use airports in other regions will be able to travel more conveniently to major destinations in China, including Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu, through nearby Daegu International Airport."
Meanwhile, Daegu Metropolitan City expects the expansion of direct routes to encourage Chinese tourists to visit Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, improve business convenience for local importers and exporters, and generate positive ripple effects throughout the regional economy.
[email protected] Kim Jang-wook Reporter