Summer might be over, but that won't stop us from wanting to travel—especially if we're talking the land of Hallyu, South Korea.
To accommodate the growing number of travelers, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has expanded its partnership with South Korea to improve air services between the two countries. We can expect an increase in seats for flights between Manila and Incheon from 20,000 to 30,000 thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on July 4, 2024.
The 20,000 weekly cap had been in place since 2017.
"The increase in capacity will be felt by the market once airlines take advantage of the opportunity to carry more passenger traffic between the capital cities of the two countries," the DOTR said in a statement.
More Flights to South Korea
According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), June and July have become the new peak season for international travel, with over one million people departing from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3 last month. This surge highlights the importance of the new agreement in meeting travel demands.
Fortunately for us, our love for South Korea is matched: The Philippines has consistently been a top destination for Koreans, even before the COVID-19 pandemic. By May 2024, over 600,000 Korean tourists had already visited the country, according to the DOTr.
All flights from outside Manila to all points in South Korea also remain open and unlimited under the MOU.
This announcement comes as South Korea recently expanded its simplified visa requirements for BPI, RCBC, and Metrobank credit card holders for 2024, making it easier than ever to travel to The Land of the Morning Calm.
*This story originally appeared on Spot.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Preview.ph editors.
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