Parata Air will begin scheduled flights between Incheon and Shenzhen in November, expanding its network in China.
The carrier said on the 30th that it will operate four flights a week — on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays — connecting Incheon International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport starting Nov. 9.
Flights will depart Incheon at 11:10 p.m. and arrive in Shenzhen at 2 a.m. the following day. The return leg leaves Shenzhen at 3:30 a.m. and lands at Incheon at 7:40 a.m. The route will be served by an A330-200 aircraft with 260 seats.
The launch turns traffic rights for the Incheon-Shenzhen route, allocated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the first half of this year, into an actual service. Parata Air has been preparing in stages to start the new international route.
Shenzhen is one of China's leading hubs for advanced industry and commerce, with strengths in information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles and new energy. Global companies including Huawei, Tencent, BYD and DJI are based there, making it a market with steady demand for corporate travel and business trips.
Reflecting those characteristics, Parata Air plans to offer business class to improve convenience for corporate travelers while using the wide cabin of a mid-to-large aircraft to attract tourists as well.
Shenzhen has also drawn attention recently as a city-break destination offering culture, food, shopping and coastal scenery alongside technology. Huaqiangbei, home to a dense cluster of world-renowned electronics markets, offers "tech tours" where visitors can try the latest IT devices, AI products and robots. OCT-LOFT, where former industrial facilities have been reborn as a cultural district of cafes, galleries and design shops, showcases the city's young and stylish atmosphere. Coastal parks along Shenzhen Bay and the Shekou area offer views of the sea meeting the city skyline, along with night scenery.
Since China introduced visa-free entry for South Korean nationals, travel to the country has become more accessible and travel styles more varied. Beyond conventional group and package tours, interest is growing — particularly among travelers in their 20s and 30s — in independent trips that focus on experiencing everyday life in major Chinese cities, from dining and night views to cafes and shopping.
"Shenzhen is one of China's leading advanced-industry cities and at the same time a place with diverse appeal, including a young and dynamic urban culture and coastal scenery," an official at Parata Air said. "We will provide differentiated service to a wide range of customers, from corporate travelers to those looking for a new kind of city trip in China."
