Korean Air will launch flights between Seoul and Budapest on 3 October, the carrier announced this week.
Service on the route initially will operate on Mondays using a 269-seat Boeing 787-900 aircraft, then on 29 October, will expand to twice-weekly on Mondays and Saturdays.
In addition, Korean Air will restore its Middle East network on 1 October by resuming Dubai service three times a week, operated with Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
Also on 1 October, the carrier will reinstate roundtrip flights between Seoul and Thailand’s Chiang Mai four times weekly and Phuket four times weekly.
Meanwhile, the company is one step closer to acquiring Asiana Airlines after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) concluded on Thursday that the merger won't affect competition in its local markets.
Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines are currently the only two carriers with direct passenger flights between Seoul and Sydney. However, Australian flag carrier Qantas and its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar will soon commence flights on this route, which, according to the ACCC, “allows for effective competition”.
Korean Air has so far received approval for the merger from nine countries and, in order to finalise the acquisition, the carrier said it will continue to “proactively communicate and cooperate with” remaining regulatory bodies where reporting is required, including in the US, UK, European Union, China and Japan.