Daegu City steps up efforts to diversify routes and restore air links

【Financial News, Daegu = Reporter Kim Jang-uk】Daegu City is going all out to increase international routes and restore air links through unprecedented support exceeding that of other local governments.
Daegu City is drawing attention as it begins in earnest to pursue measures to revitalize Daegu International Airport, including diversifying international routes, in order to revive the airport’s flagging international passenger demand and make air travel more convenient for residents.
To this end, as part of its efforts to revitalize Daegu International Airport, the city plans to draw up a “2027 Financial Support Plan for Air Operators Operating International Routes.”
Mayor Choo Kyung-ho stressed, “The successful opening of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport starts with revitalizing the current Daegu International Airport,” adding, “The city will spare no effort in supporting the expansion of Daegu’s air links and ensuring that the benefits help revitalize the local economy and tourism.”
The city focused on developing competitive support measures that could serve as a basis for airlines’ decisions when they seek to expand operations, gathering a broad range of feedback from the field, including through direct visits to domestic and international airlines.
First, the city extended the support period for scheduled routes (new routes and additional services) from one year to two, allowing airlines to focus on establishing routes without being pressured to deliver results in the short term.
Previously, the city supported airlines by compensating operating losses for routes with a load factor of 85% or less. Starting with this round of support, it has switched to providing operating incentives for launching routes.
The city also lowered the eligibility threshold for support to encourage diversification of routes and airlines and enable a wider range of international routes. In particular, it is easing the requirements for support for irregular routes, reducing the minimum number of operations from eight to six, to allow a variety of international routes that reflect seasonal changes in travel demand.
The city is also considering additional support for airlines that secure at least a specified share of international flight operations at Daegu International Airport. It will also step up promotional support so residents can more easily learn about newly launched or resumed routes.
Park Cheol-hui, head of the Airport Revitalization Planning Division, said, “We plan to pursue improvements to airport access alongside expanded support for international routes,” adding, “Given that parking capacity inside and near the airport is insufficient relative to demand, we plan to commission a study on expanding parking facilities within the year.”
He added, “Following the selection of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Super-Regional Tourism and Transportation Innovation Leading District project, we plan to launch transport services in 2027 connecting major tourist destinations in Gyeongbuk, including Andong, Pohang and Gyeongju, with Daegu International Airport, a transportation hub, and actively attract travelers from across the Gyeongbuk region.”
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