Korea continues T’way Air Paris route discussions with France

[Courtesy of T’way Air]

South Korean authorities are negotiating with France regarding the smooth operation of T’way Air’s upcoming inaugural flight to Paris. They form part of the airline’s preparations to take over four European passenger routes, including Paris, from Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines following the planned merger between the two full-service carriers.

According to industry sources on Friday, French aviation authorities recently raised concerns to the South Korean government and Korean Air that T’way Air’s operation to France violates aviation agreements between the two countries.

Only one national carrier, Korean Air, has been allowed to operate flights to Paris in the 34 years since the Korea and France signed an aviation agreement in 1974. But the agreement was expanded to allow “two Korean airlines” starting from 2008, thus allowing Asiana Airlines to operate flights to the City of Light as well. Korean Air currently operates seven flights per week on the Incheon-Paris route, while Asiana Airlines operates six.

The French government views T’way Air’s planned launch of flights on the Incheon-Paris route at the end of June 2024 as a violation of this agreement.

T’way Air was designated as the replacement carrier for Korean Air’s passenger routes in accordance with the conditions of approval issued by EU competition authorities in February 2024. Korean Air is thus mulling transferring five A330-200 aircraft and dispatching over 100 crew members to T’way Air.

If the French government does not allow T’way Air to operate flights to Paris, it will not comply with the conditions of approval issued by EU competition authorities. If Korean Air discontinues its flights on the route, it will also miss out on the demand related to the Olympics, which will take place in Paris in July.

Sources said the possibility of Asiana Airlines suspending operations is low since the merger is yet to be completed. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korean Air are currently in discussions with French aviation authorities on the matter.

“We are discussing whether to revise the aviation agreement itself, or temporarily allow three Korean airlines to operate until the merger is completed,” a ministry official said.

“Aviation authorities from both countries are currently discussing the matter, which is expected to be resolved soon,” Korean Air said, adding there are no issues with T’way Air’s planned flights to Frankfurt, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Rome, Italy. This is because each country’s aviation authorities respect the principle of conditional approval by EU competition authorities and recognize that the measures are implemented within existing traffic rights.