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Passenger, airline, and policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis: The case of South Korea

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  • Kim, Myeonghyeon
  • Sohn, Jeongwoong

Abstract

In recent years, domestic and international air passenger markets have expanded steadily around the world with the rapid growth of low cost carriers and aggressive route expansion; however, the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in greatly decreased air travel and an uncertain future for the aviation industry. The present study examined South Korean passengers, airlines, and government policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it suggests policy directions for the pandemic and post-pandemic periods. Air passengers respond to internal and external factors, and their demand for travel will increase with the reduction in global COVID cases and vaccine distribution. South Korean airlines have used various means to overcome decreased passenger numbers, such as domestic route transitions, freight transportation expansion, and mergers and acquisitions; Korean Air recorded a profit through its foray into cargo transport in 2020. The Korean government is trying to curb the spread of COVID-19 and help the industry to recover by establishing an airport quarantine system at Incheon international airport. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is necessary to continuously monitor the responses of passengers, industry, and governments and to share relevant information.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Myeonghyeon & Sohn, Jeongwoong, 2022. "Passenger, airline, and policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis: The case of South Korea," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaitra:v:98:y:2022:i:c:s0969699721001265
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jairtraman.2021.102144
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    3. Lázaro Florido-Benítez, 2022. "The Safety-Hygiene Air Corridor between UK and Spain Will Coexist with COVID-19," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Mutascu, Mihai & Sokic, Alexandre, 2023. "Air transportation under COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: A wavelet analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 155-181.
    5. Bing Zhao & Hao Wu, 2022. "A System Dynamics Model of Multi-Airport Logistics System under the Impact of COVID-19: A Case of Jing-Jin-Ji Multi-Airport System in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Abdelghany, Ahmed & Abdelghany, Khaled & Guzhva, Vitaly S., 2024. "Schedule-level optimization of flight block times for improved airline schedule planning: A data-driven approach," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    7. Heejoon Kim & Woon-Kyung Song & Jin-Woo Park, 2022. "The Effect of COVID-19 Countermeasures on Korean Air Passenger Confidence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.
    8. Cho, Janghee & O'Connell, John F. & Kim, Bora & Shin, Hakseung, 2023. "The impact of political conflicts on airline performance," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    9. SangRyeong Lee & Jin-Woo Park & Sukhoon Chung, 2022. "The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Corporate Reputation: The Case of Incheon International Airport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-19, September.

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