Korean Air. 'Concern for passengers' safety'
Korean Air won't resume Israel activity for now
South Korea's flight carrier decides to cancel additional flights on Tel Aviv-Seoul route until August 14 due to security situation. Royal Jordanian Airlines has yet to resume its flights to Israel either.
South Korea's flag carrier, Korean Air, has decided not to resume flights to Israel for now in light of what the company defined as "the security situation."
Korean Air was the first airline to cancel its flights to Israel
upon the start of the Israeli operation in Gaza, even before the Federal Aviation Administration imposed a flight ban
on Israel, which was lifted less than two days later.
In a letter sent to travel agents on Wednesday, the airline said it was cancelling flights scheduled on the Tel Aviv-Seoul route for August 2, 5 and 7 and would not receive any new bookings until August 14.
Heavy Toll
Damage to incoming tourism and hotel industry in third quarter of 2014 estimated at $500 million with 34% drop in number of foreign visitors.
In its initial announcement on its official website, the Korean airline noted that it had decided to temporarily halt all flights in light of its concerns for its passengers' safety due to the unstable situation in Israel.
Many of Korean Air's Israeli passengers use its flights to reach dozens of destinations in Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Taiwan, Hong Kong and other countries. The airline uses El Al's flight paths which do not cross Arab countries, and is therefore favored by many Israelis.
Royal Jordanian Airlines has yet to resume its flights to Israel either. The Jordanian airline suspended its activity a day after European airlines temporarily halted their fights following the FAA ban.
