UAL to Suspend Direct Flight to S. Korea

UAL Corp.’s United Airlines said it will stop flying directly from the U.S. to South Korea as economic turmoil in Asia reduces business in the region. The carrier, the United States’ largest, will suspend its daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Seoul on May 5, and stop flying between Osaka, Japan, and Seoul on July 8. Passengers will have to fly through Tokyo to make United’s daily flight to Seoul. The move is another step in the Chicago-based airline’s attempt to trim unprofitable Asian routes amid lower demand as the region struggles economically. United has yet to decide to which market it will send the planes, a spokesman said. Earlier this month, the airline warned that revenue for the first quarter and the year could be less than expected because of falling Asia sales. The airline’s passenger traffic there fell 11.5% in January and February. UAL shares fell 6 cents to close at $93.19 on the NYSE.