One of the major full-service airlines in South Korea is Asiana Airlines, which accounts for 20% of the country’s domestic market and about 25% of its international aviation market.
It operates two low-cost subsidiary airlines, Air Busan and Air Seoul, and is a member of Star Alliance. When Asiana offers Prague, Czech Republic, as its seventh European destination in April 2025, it hopes to broaden its European network.
Asiana, a full service South Korean carrier
Asiana operates passenger flights to around 90 destinations, with an additional 14 domestic destinations. Korean Air purchased Asiana in December 2024 (63.88% ownership). Its international hub is Incheon International Airport, located just outside of Seoul, while its domestic hub is Gimpo International Airport (also in Seoul).
| Asiana Airlines | |
|---|---|
| Date founded: | 1988 |
| Type: | Full-service carrier |
| Alliance: | Star Alliance |
| Total destinations: | Over 100 |
| Total fleet: | 82 (including cargo aircraft) |
| Aircraft on order: | 28 (A321neos and A350-900s) |
Asiana now offers six routes to Europe (counting Istanbul as a European destination): Barcelona in Spain, Frankfurt in Germany, Istanbul in Turkey, London in the United Kingdom, Paris in France and Rome in Italy. This implies Prague will be Asiana’s first Central European destination (Germany is considered Western Europe).
Prague, a romantic destination for Koreans
Asiana’s new route to Prague’s Václav Havel Airport (PRG) will be served by an Airbus A350-900 (with 311 seats) and will fly three times a week. Prague is a favorite European trip among Koreans. The city is well-known for its Gothic and other architectural styles and is one of Europe’s most visited destinations.
Asiana states, “A new route from Incheon to Prague will run three times a week beginning April 1, 2025. Book your comfortable and pleasant journey with Asiana Airlines today!”
Prague has earned a unique reputation as a romantic getaway in South Korea. According to Aviation Week, “Prague remains a popular tourist destination for South Koreans, boosted by the ongoing popularity of the 2005 South Korean TV drama series Lovers in Prague.
” According to the Czech Republic Embassy in Seoul, the bulk of Korean travelers, aged 30-44, account for 59.6% of total arrivals. It believes such visitors regard the city as ‘a romantic Instagram destination.'”
Asiana’s new Prague destination:
- Period of operation: 1 April 2025 to 30 October 2025
- Flight number OZ545 Incheon to Prague/OZ546 Prague to Incheon
- Operating days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays
Asiana’s competitor, Korean Air, already serves this route (with four flights per week to Prague). Korean Air also conducts flights to Budapest, Hungary. Korean Air’s journey to Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport is now expected to take 13 hours and 20 minutes. The service is operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
According to PRG Chairman Jiřà Pos, passengers will have access to many connecting flights from Seoul to regional locations via Asiana Airlines’ network. A further rise in the number of flights will also promote business cooperation between the Czech Republic and South Korea, as well as open the Czech Republic to more Asian tourists.
LOT Polish Airlines also operates a number of flights to South Korea (from Warsaw, Wroclaw, and Budapest, Hungary).
Asiana’s 2025 flights to Europe
In January 2025, Asiana plans to operate 258 flights to Europe, transporting a total of 79,570 passengers. On its European routes, it operates a mix of A350-900 and Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
| Asiana’s European routes (Jan 2025): | Number of flights (one way): | Aircraft: |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul to Barcelona: | 22 | A350-900 |
| Seoul to Paris: | 27 | A350-900 |
| Seoul to Rome: | 21 | Boeing 777-200LR |
| Seoul to Frankfurt: | 23 | A350-900 |
| Seoul to Istanbul: | 14 | Boeing 777-200LR |
| Seoul to London (Heathrow) | 22 | A350-900 |
Flights to Prague will be operated by an Airbus A350-900 and will begin in April 2025. According to Cirium (an aviation analytics business), Asiana’s flights to Prague will end in October 2025 (implying that the route is only operational during the summer).
Asiana will operate 13-14 flights every month from Seoul to Prague, carrying between 8,710 and 9,380 seats (the variant is most likely determined by how many 3-weekly flights fall in a particular month).
The number of scheduled flights between Seoul and Europe is expected to peak in October 2025 at 310 Asiana flights (including return flights). The maximum capacity is 95,618 seats. November 2025 will have slightly more flights than January, with 268 scheduled flights.
Asiana also runs a fleet of six A380s. However, these are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026, indicating that Asiana would be one of the carriers to retire the enormous yet expensive aircraft. Korean Air also operates a small fleet of A380s, which are being retired with its Boeing 747-8s.
The only quad-engined passenger jet in production today is the Russian Ilyushin Il-96 (but Russia has yet to restart manufacturing and deliver any of the aircraft since sanctions were imposed in early 2022).
Impact of Russia’s airspace closure
European flights to Asia have grown strained as a result of Russia’s decision to limit its airspace to European (as well as American and Canadian) carriers. Russia restricted its airspace in response to Western countries restricting their airspace to Russian flights.
This has prompted European airlines to fly longer routes outside Russia’s airspace (while Chinese airlines gain from being able to access Russian airspace). According to Flightradar24: “Russian Airspace closure has had a severe impact on aviation, with some flights between Europe and Asia being lengthened by hours due to airspace avoidance.”
For example, flights between Finland’s Helsinki and South Korea’s Seoul used to take nine hours over Siberia; with Russian airspace closed, the route now takes over 12 hours. Similarly, a flight from New York City takes around one to two hours longer.
In October 2022, The Korean Herald stated, “Earlier this month, an Asiana flight flying from New York to Incheon was forced to make a technical landing at Narita Airport in Japan to avoid exceeding the flight crew’s legal working hours limit.” After encountering heavy headwinds, the trip was certain to take more than 16 hours to its final destination.”
According to CBS News, in March 2022, Russia banned aircraft from 36 countries from flying across its territory. These countries include all 27 EU member countries, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Japan.
Almost three years later, the world’s aviation network has largely adjusted to the new norm, with flights diverted. Meanwhile, Chinese airlines have an advantage over their European counterparts in linking China to Europe.
It should be remembered that international sanctions have dealt a severe hit to Russia’s aviation industry. The country is now unable to obtain replacement parts and servicing for its existing jets (except on the black market) and cannot purchase new aircraft, including Brazil’s Embraer and China’s COMAC.
So far, Russia has failed to revive domestic airliner production and appears to be moving backwards in time, resorting to outmoded aircraft designs.
Decreased flights to China
The shutdown of Russian airspace has also had a significant impact on North American-East Asian flights, with China being the most affected. Flights between China and the United States have decreased by 74% between October 2024 and October 2019 (the year before the epidemic). Flights between Canada and China fell by 91% during the same period.
However, it should be noted that the Russian airspace shutdown is not the sole cause. Going great power competition, the rise of the local Chinese tourism industry, and China’s ailing economy are all contributing causes.
Notably, no aircraft have flown between mainland China and India since the outbreak began, as India has prohibited Chinese flights in order to isolate its economy from China.
Separately, Asiana is one of the airlines that fly between the United States and South Korea, with destinations including Honolulu, New York (JFK), Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Overcoming the challenges of airspace closures
In conclusion, despite Russia’s closed airspace obstacles, Asiana continues to operate and even expands its flights between South Korea and Europe. The flights to Prague will boost Korea’s connectivity to Central Europe throughout the summer months, demonstrating that Europe remains a popular Korean destination.
FAQ
Why is Asiana Airlines expanding its European routes?
Asiana Airlines is expanding its European routes to cater to increasing demand for travel between Asia and Europe, enhance connectivity for business and leisure travelers, and strengthen its global presence.
Which European destinations does Asiana Airlines currently serve?
Asiana Airlines serves major European cities such as London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Istanbul, with plans for additional routes in the future.
What benefits do travelers gain from Asiana Airlines’ European expansion?
Travelers benefit from more flight options, competitive pricing, seamless connections, and enhanced travel experiences with Asiana Airlines’ premium services.
Is Asiana Airlines adding new European routes soon?
Yes, Asiana Airlines has hinted at adding more destinations in Europe to meet the growing demand for international travel.
What aircraft does Asiana Airlines use for its European routes?
Asiana Airlines primarily uses long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 for its European routes, offering comfort and efficiency.
How does the European expansion fit into Asiana Airlines’ overall strategy?
The expansion aligns with Asiana Airlines’ strategy to strengthen its global network, increase market share, and provide enhanced travel experiences for international passengers.
