Emirates Airline is opening a new office in Busan on November 2 as the city steps up efforts to establish a direct flight between Gimhae International Airport and Dubai.
The opening ceremony in Jungang-dong, Jung-gu, brought together representatives from the Busan Metropolitan Government, Emirates, the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Korea, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and other aviation-related organizations.
Emirates, which operates flights connecting 152 cities in 80 countries through its Dubai hub, is among the international airlines Busan is seeking to attract as part of its long-haul route expansion strategy.
A direct Busan-Dubai service would cover approximately 7,000 kilometers, making it one of the longest international routes from Gimhae Airport.
The proposed route would provide direct access to the Middle East while improving connections to Europe and Africa through Emirates’ Dubai network.
Busan plans to work with the airline and relevant authorities to establish the conditions necessary for launching the service. The city also operates a financial support program that can provide up to 2 billion won to help airlines offset initial operating losses on new international routes.
The initiative comes as international passenger traffic at Gimhae Airport continues to grow.
The airport surpassed 10 million international passengers in October for the second consecutive year, following its post-pandemic milestone in 2025. The city is targeting 12 million international passengers annually.
During the 2026–2027 winter aviation season, Busan is also working to expand services to destinations including Kagoshima, Xiamen, Guangzhou and Kuala Lumpur.
Beyond Dubai, the city is holding discussions with airlines about potential routes to Türkiye and Los Angeles as part of its broader strategy to improve long-distance international connectivity.
Busan is also pursuing the relocation of the headquarters of a consolidated Korean low-cost carrier to the city, while preparing for the future opening of Gadeokdo New Airport.
