Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo opens Incheon route

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo Director for Japan and Korea Béatrice Delpuech, fourth from left, and officials pose at Incheon International Airport’s cargo terminal, Tuesday. Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corp.

A major European cargo airline has begun flights to Incheon, opening a new air bridge for premium products and underscoring Korea’s expanding role in global logistics.

Incheon International Airport Corp. said Tuesday that Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo launched a cargo route between Incheon and Amsterdam, operating three times a week.

The carrier, the cargo arm of the Air France-KLM group, operates out of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and provides freight services to more than 310 destinations worldwide. The new route is expected to deepen cargo links between Europe and Northeast Asia.

The service uses Boeing 747-400 freighters and follows a circular route that includes Hong Kong, a structure intended to improve network efficiency across key trade corridors.

The airline will primarily transport premium and specialized cargo, including semiconductor equipment, pharmaceuticals and aerospace components. The new route is expected to generate an additional 16,000 tons of annual cargo capacity, the airport operator said.

To mark the launch, the airport held a ceremony Tuesday at its cargo terminal, attended by about 10 officials.

The event included a commemorative photo session and a flower presentation to the flight crew.

Among those present was Béatrice Delpuech, director for Japan and Korea at Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo.

The airport said the new route will strengthen Incheon airport’s competitiveness in the global air cargo market, adding that it would continue to attract new carriers and routes to bolster Korea’s logistics capabilities.

Incheon International Airport handled 2.9 million tons of cargo last year, ranking third in the world for international cargo volume.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.