Korean Asiana using the Olympics

Asiana, the South Korean carrier, intends to use its extensive network into China to try and become the carrier of choice for Olympics attendees.

Asiana Airlines flies to more cities in China than any other airline and has been using its network to draw more U.S. passengers traveling China. It want to introduce other Chinese destinations to people who will be visiting that country for the first time to attend the Beijing Games.

Kang Joo-an, president of Asiana said, ‘In terms of China, we are the market leader. Though competition is fierce, we believe we have the most-convenient network and best service to China.’

On Asiana U.S. passengers can make a stopover at South Korea’s Incheon International Airport, then catch another flight to any of the 20 cities in China it serves.

Asiana currently operates four daily nonstops between LAX and Incheon but is looking to add more flights before the Beijing Olympics.
Asiana is about half the size of Korean Air: It has 63 aircraft and flies to 63 cities in 17 countries, whereas Korean Air has 123 aircraft and flies to 114 cities in 37 countries.

Asiana has its strengths. For the third year in a row, Asiana was picked as having the best on-board service and flight attendants in the world, beating Singapore Airlines and British Airways, in a survey of business travelers. It also is one of only five airlines in the world with the highest five-star rating from an independent rating firm, SkyTrax. And this writer can testify that at least one frequent traveler goes out of his way to fly Asiana.