Having launched its new Gatwick route earlier this year, Korean Air (KAL) has now decided to suspend operations during the off-peak winter season.
A spokesperson for KAL explained that a good proportion of traffic on this three times a week service comprises Asian group tourists * who fly into London but return with KAL from another city in mainland Europe. There is less demand for European holidays during this period.
KAL says its last flight of the winter from Gatwick will be on January 12 and that it will resume the service on April 27 in time for the busier summer season.
Flights will continue to operate at the same flight frequency and with the same aircraft type, a B777-200 configured with eight first, 28 business and 210 economy class seats.
But perhaps one factor in KAL’s decision for the winter suspension is the fact that there will be much more capacity on the route from next Sunday when British Airways will be returning to Seoul after an absence of over 10 years.
BA’s five times a week service to Seoul begins on December 2. It will be operated out of London Heathrow with a B777-200.
For more information visit koreanair.com.
Report by Alex McWhirter
* As an aside, it’s interesting to note, as we regularly write in Business Traveller, that Asian tour groups visiting Europe are smart enough to arrive first in the UK then fly home from mainland Europe to avoid our highest rate of APD.
