China rejects chartered flights from Korea

Lotte’s Duty Free Shop in central Seoul bustles with shoppers on Oct. 2, 2016 — during China’s week-long National Day Holiday, when large numbers of Chinese visit Korea every year. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

The Chinese government disapproved applications for chartered flights departing from Korea, domestic airlines and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport confirmed Sunday.

Chinese aviation authorities rejected eight flights of Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air and Jin Air last week to destinations on the mainland for January. Chartered flights are serviced when there are surplus demands, such as during China’s national holidays. Lunar New Year, a major holiday in China, is coming at the end of this month.

“There have been cases in which flights of a certain carrier or route were rejected for safety reasons, but it is unprecedented for a whole group of flights of various carriers and routes to be disapproved,” said Kim Jung-hee, director of international air transport at the ministry.

In addition, it appears Chinese carriers may also withdraw applications for charted flights to Korea.

“China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Air told us to hold their applications following their government’s disapproval of charted flights from Korea,” Kim said. “Although we have yet to hear from them, it seems likely they will withdraw their applications in line with the Chinese government’s rejections.”

Chinese authorities did not specify the reason behind the disapproval. There are speculations that such measures could be a means of retaliation to Korea’s decision last year to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to shield Pyongyang’s military threats. China is opposed to the U.S. missile defense system in Korea, claiming it will destroy the regional security balance.

Beijing is Seoul’s largest trading partner and the Chinese account for the largest number of tourists to Korea. Since Seoul’s announcement to deploy the THAAD last July, China has taken a number of measures which appear to be hostile towards Korea.

In September, the Chinese Embassy in Korea raised the eligibility for business visa applicants. In November, Korea’s fifth-largest conglomerate Lotte found its China units faced unusual tax audit and safety inspections, which were seen here as a retaliatory measure against the group which provided the site for the THAAD deployment. Beijing also took anti-hallyu measures such as ordering its broadcasters not to air Korean dramas and restricting the appearance of Korean stars on local media.

The Chinese government’s rejection of the chartered flights from Korea is seen as another means of pressuring Seoul over THAAD.

However, the official at Korea’s land ministry said, “These are speculations, and the government is seeking to figure out China’s motive.”

The ministry last week attempted to reach Chinese authorities through the Korean Embassy there, but said it failed to receive a response.

“We expect China’s carriers to get back to us concerning the matter this week. In the meantime, we plan to speak with domestic carriers on Tuesday,” Kim said.

The cancellation of chartered flights between Beijing and Seoul will likely affect the number of Chinese tourists coming here during the Lunar New Year holiday.

"Domestic carriers will see a fall in sales, but the tourism industry will probably be more significantly affected,” the official said.