Direct passenger flights between Ningbo and Seoul resumed on Saturday
When air gates closed for four long years swing open again, distances between cities cease to be measured in kilometres – they are measured in hours, minutes and opportunities. The resumption of direct flights between Ningbo and Seoul is not just the return of a convenient route. It is the restoration of living connections that fuel trade, tourism and cultural exchange. Instead of multi‑hour transfers and tedious stopovers – just two hours in the air, and you are in another country. Such proximity changes how neighbours are perceived: Korea becomes not a far‑off destination, but almost a neighbouring region, where you can fly for a weekend as easily as to another Chinese city.
Direct passenger flights between Ningbo (Zhejiang Province, East China) and the South Korean capital Seoul resumed on Saturday, restarting services suspended since 2021. Flights operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with each flight lasting just two hours. Compared to transit travel over the past five years, the resumption cuts travel time by more than four hours, significantly facilitating economic and cultural exchange between the two cities. The resumption of the route also brings the total number of passenger flights from Ningbo Lishe International Airport to international destinations, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan to 15.
Direct air links between Ningbo and Seoul were interrupted in 2021 due to global restrictions caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic. Over the years, economic ties between East China and South Korea have only strengthened: Ningbo is a major port and industrial hub, while Seoul is the financial and cultural heart of the region. The route resumption meets growing demand for business travel and tourism, especially in light of the recent expansion of visa‑free policies between the two countries. Flight frequencies may be increased in the coming months depending on demand.
As CCTV+ reports, the resumption of the Ningbo–Seoul route is another step in restoring international aviation mobility and strengthening regional cooperation in Northeast Asia.
