2023 is ending on a high with a record number of international airlines now flying to Melbourne Airport.
Last night South Korea’s Asiana Airlines started seasonal services to Seoul, making it the 38th international carrier to serve Melbourne Airport.
The airline is operating two direct flights a week between Melbourne Airport and the South Korean capital using a state-of-the-art Airbus A350 aircraft, fitted with 311 seats in a three-class configuration.
With a population of more than nine million people, Seoul is a global economic hub and the gateway to one of the world’s manufacturing powerhouses as well as being the home of K-Pop.
Flights will operate every Tuesday and Thursday, departing Melbourne at 10pm and arriving at Seoul’s Incheon Airport the following morning.
Melbourne Airport Chief of Aviation Jim Parashos said Asiana’s arrival in Melbourne marked another significant milestone for Victoria.
“Until now, Seoul was one of our largest unserved markets, with travellers forced to connect through other ports in Australia or Asia,” he said.
“These direct services will mean passengers and Victorian exporters can avoid the cost and inconvenience of transiting through another city to reach South Korea.
“Earlier this month we were the first Australian capital city airport to exceed our 2019 international seat capacity, and Asiana’s arrival means we now have more international airlines flying here than ever before.
“This is testament to the efforts of teams at both Melbourne Airport and the Victorian State Government, who have worked in partnership to secure capacity as airlines brought aircraft back into service.
“This benefits passengers by helping to put downward pressure on airfares, and gives exporters more options when sending high value, time critical goods into foreign markets.
“Because of this, an average daily international flight is worth $154 million a year to the Victorian economy.
“We expect this seasonal service will prove popular and given the increasingly close business ties between Victoria and South Korea, we are hopeful it will pave the way for regular, year-round flights in the future.”