T'way Air Expands into Europe with Four New Routes

T'way Air is gearing up to introduce flights to Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Frankfurt from Seoul, in a strategic expansion linked to Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines.

Korean low-cost carrier T'way Air is set to launch services to four European cities from Seoul, marking a significant expansion in its international flight operations. This development comes as part of the regulatory conditions set for the approval of Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines. The new routes from Seoul Incheon airport will include Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Frankfurt, with flights expected to commence in the latter half of 2024.

The allocation of "remedy" slots for T'way Air's European venture stems from the European Commission's (EC) conditions to maintain competitive balance in the aviation market, following Korean Air's takeover of Asiana. Korean Air, which announced its £1.2 billion bid for Asiana in 2020, has faced delays in finalizing the acquisition due to the need for approval from various global competition regulators. Despite securing the nod from the EC, Korean Air awaits approval from the United States' regulatory bodies.

Korean Air has committed to providing substantial support to T'way Air as it embarks on this new European chapter, ensuring the low-cost carrier is well-equipped to manage its upcoming international routes. This move is part of broader efforts to sustain competitive dynamics within the aviation sector post-merger.

The acquisition has already received clearance from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in March 2023, under the condition that Korean Air would release slots for Virgin Atlantic to begin operations between London and Seoul. However, Virgin Atlantic has yet to announce plans for such a service. Korean Air remains focused on concluding discussions with US competition authorities to expedite the merger's completion.