The government of South Korea initiated a new type of support for local air carriers. The Minister of Finance announced that the government would help airlines to launch international flights without landing.
On November 19, 2020, Hong Nam, the Minister of Finance of South Korea, revealed the country’s government plans to launch a new type of air traveling consisting of international flights without landing. These special flights would allow local airlines to fly over other countries with a return without landing. The Minister of Finance said that the country would follow the idea of flights to nowhere with an aim to expand it to global destinations.
Speaking to the local media, Hong Nam explained that the new type of flights would be operated for 12 months after related ministries of the country would carry out the preparatory work. According to Nam, the program would be ready for implementation by the end of November 2020.
„The program without entry or departure from another country would be temporarily operated for 12 months and passengers would be required for quarantine procedures only when they’re departing while receiving the same tax-free benefits as regular travelers“, outlined Nam speaking to local media.
A bunch of airlines such as Korean Air, Jeju Air, Asiana, and Jin Air would be the first ones to enter the new program.
According to statistical data released in October 2020, the government of South Korea has already provided up to $269 million in financial support for smaller local air carriers in order to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry. Besides, back in April 2020, the government supported Asiana Airlines and Korean Air, two major air carriers of the country, by almost $2.7 billion to stabilize the liquidity of both airlines.