S. Korean Asiana Resumes Incheon-Beijing Flights after 2 Years

Asiana Airlines, South Korea's second-biggest carrier, resumed its Incheon-Beijing route Saturday after suspending it for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company noted that an Asiana plane carrying 141 passengers left Incheon International Airport this morning and arrived at Beijing Capital International Airport.

Asiana indicated that it will offer one flight a week on the route every Saturday and consider increasing the number of flights as the Chinese government has shortened the mandatory quarantine period for overseas arrivals to 10 days from two to three weeks.

Before the pandemic, the Incheon-Beijing route was a significant route between the two nations used by around 1.1 million passengers annually. The route was suspended in March 2020 under the Chinese government's COVID-19 restrictions.

Last May, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol offered to help the North amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Back then, the North was struggling to contain the what-called fever that has reportedly killed dozens and sickened nearly a million others in a span of days.

“If North Korea responds (to our support), we will spare no medicines including COVID-19 vaccines, medical equipment and health personnel,” said Yoon in a speech at the plenary session of the National Assembly on Monday. He also asserted that he will remain open to humanitarian aid.