SOUTH KOREAN flag carrier Korean Air on Sunday began offering direct flights from Clark, Pampanga to Incheon, South Korea, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said.

“Travelers to Korea can now add Clark as their gateway beginning today, 27 October 2019,” the DoTr said in a statement.

Korean Air’s Clark-Incheon flights run seven days a week. KE 636 departs Clark at 13:10 and arrives in Incheon at 18:10. The return flight KE 635 departs Incheon at 7:55 a.m. and arrives in Clark at 11:05 a.m.

“Today, it’s not about coming in and flying out, it’s all about trust. And I know that Korean Air came here not only because of the revenue that is to be generated, but more importantly, and this was mentioned to me by Ambassador Han — ‘we are going to Clark, if we are going to expand our operations in the Philippines, it’s because we want to show faith and trust in the Republic of the Philippines,” Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade was quoted as saying during the inaugural ceremony for Korean Air’s new route at the Clark International Airport.

Mr. Tugade noted that Clark remains to be an “attractive and viable destination” for air traffic and logistics hub in Central Luzon.

He added that pursuing Clark’s development as an alternative gateway “will vastly improve” the Philippines’ travel and tourism industry.

Korean Air has 17 flights from Manila to Incheon every week.

The South Korean carrier planning to mount more flights to Southeast Asia, China and Oceania, after it suspended or reduced flights to some Japanese cities amid an ongoing trade row with Japan. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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