Korean airlines cut Japan flights amid struggle to fill seats

Bilateral row seen having prolonged impact on travel between neighbors

20190730 Korean Air

Korean Air will suspend flights between Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, and the northern Japanese destination of Sapporo. © Getty Images

ERI SUGIURA and KIM JAEWON, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO/SEOUL -- South Korea's Korean Air Lines and budget carrier T'way Air will reduce flights to Japan amid rising trade tensions between the two countries.

The two airlines said the cuts to low-profit routes were driven by market pressures rather than any boycotts by South Korean travelers following Tokyo's decision this month to slap controls on exports of high-tech materials to the country.

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