Yangyang–Shanghai air route to open Dec. 21; Parata Air to operate scheduled flights twice a week

【Financial News | Yangyang = Kim Gi-seop】Starting Dec. 21, Parata Air will operate twice-weekly scheduled flights between Yangyang International Airport and Shanghai, China, extending air links from Korea’s East Coast to China’s largest economic city.
According to Gangwon State on the 27th, flights will depart Yangyang at 11:45 p.m. every Monday and Friday and arrive in Shanghai at 2 a.m. the following day. Return flights will leave Shanghai at 3 a.m. every Tuesday and Saturday and arrive in Yangyang at 6:15 a.m. After receiving traffic rights for the Yangyang–Shanghai route for three flights a week from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) in April this year, Parata Air has been going through flight approval procedures with MOLIT and relevant authorities, including the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
The province expects the launch to expand international services at Yangyang Airport, helping attract Chinese tourists and boost local tourism. Taking into account the winter low season and late-night operating hours, Parata Air plans to sell special fares to mark the launch and offer special discounts to provincial residents.
The airline is also working to secure initial demand. Parata Air will partner with travel agencies that recruit Chinese group tourists to sell tickets and attract visitors, and will comprehensively analyze market trends and the route’s profitability before considering a gradual increase in flight frequency. The Hangzhou route, which has also been pursued jointly, will require time to obtain approval from Chinese authorities, so it plans to proceed while monitoring the relevant procedures and market conditions.
Son Chang-hwan, head of Gangwon State’s Global Headquarters, said, “The scheduled Shanghai route will provide a channel for bringing Chinese tourists directly to Korea’s East Coast. We will work with the airline to build a solid base of initial demand through discounts for provincial residents and collaboration with travel agencies, and to follow that with increased flight frequency and route diversification, as we work to make Yangyang Airport a hub for air routes in Northeast Asia.”

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