Korean Air Lines Co, South Korea's biggest carrier, plans to fly directly to 50 Chinese cities over the next five years as it wants to tap China's rising demand for outbound travel, it disclosed yesterday (Apr 2).

The carrier, which is now focusing on major cities in China, plans to also tap the country's second-tier markets as travel demand between the two countries rises, officials with Korean Air said at the World Travel Fair in Shanghai yesterday.

"Korean Air will open another 50 routes to China in five years from the current 29," said C.S. Kim, deputy general manager of Korean Air's passenger sales in Shanghai.

"The booming tourist market both in China and South Korea is creating a huge air service demand," he added.

The carrier is seeking to open direct flights from Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, to Seoul and also serve smaller cities like Ningbo and Wenzhou, and other Chinese tourist sites, he said.

Editor: Wing