William Dennis

South Korea’s plan to drop Japan from its so-called whitelist of preferred trading partners in September will further disrupt air travel between the two countries, particularly affecting Korean low-cost carriers that rely heavily on Japanese routes to sustain profitability. With three of its 22 routes to Japan already suspended, low-cost carrier (LCC) Jeju Air will subtract another six in September and October. During the same period, fellow LCC Jin Air plans to reduce its current 131 weekly flights to 78 while flag carrier Korean Air downgrades Airbus A330-300 operations from Incheon to Sapporo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya to Boeing 737-800 service.

 


As travel between the two countries continues to wane, LCCs have begun to look to other countries to fill the gap. Jeju Air, for example, has turned to China to add new routes with the hope of compensating for its losses in Japan. The airline on Tuesday launched service from Incheon to Nantong, offering three weekly flights, and the airline has scheduled six-times-weekly flights from Incheon to Yangi for August 19. A day later it launches three-times-weekly services between Busan and Jiangjajie and another route of the same frequency between Incheon and Harbin. It also has scheduled a twice-weekly service between Muan and Jiangjiajie to start on August 21.

 


Jeju plans to introduce flights on the Incheon-Beijing Daxing International Airport route when the new facility opens for operations later this year. The carrier is also looking to operate Jeju-Beijing Shoudou Airport, located 19 miles outside the city, and Jeju to Xi’an late in the third quarter of the year.

 


According to a Jeju Air official in Incheon, Soh Wan-ho, the carrier hopes the new routes will also pave the way for more use of its Boeing 737-800 fleet and strengthen bilateral relations with China.

 


Jeju Air started operations in 2005 as a joint venture between the Aekyung Conglomerate and the Jeju municipal government. It now operates a network of eight domestic and 36 international destinations with a fleet of 45 Boeing 737-800s. It awaits 40 Boeing 737 Max 8s on firm order, the contract for which calls for delivery from 2022 to 2027.

 


Meanwhile, Air Seoul plans to replace some of its 11 routes to Japan with new destinations in China and Southeast Asia. Fellow LCCs T’Way Air, Eastar Jet, and Air Busan plan to increase capacity to Shanghai, Taipei, Hanoi, and Kota Kinabalu over the next two months to cope with increased bookings as South Koreans opt for other holiday destinations.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Airlines React as Korea Removes Japan from Trade Whitelist

Low-cost carrier Jeju Air adds capacity to China as Japanese services wane. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Howard Hardee

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Airlines

Skyhop Plans Island Routes With Noemi's Electric Seaplane

Agreement between start-ups could lead to orders for up to 15 aircraft

A220’s Performance Drives BermudAir’s Fleet Growth

Airline plans to gradually replace its Embraer E-Jet fleet

Air India Backs SkyDrive Emergency Medical eVTOL Plans

Partners say eVTOLs could accelerate response times in crowded Indian cities

Airbus Balances Shareholder Returns and New Aircraft

Rival Boeing arguably claimed bragging rights at the Farnborough International show

Virgin Firms Up eVTOL Air Taxi Alliance with Joby

Connections to London Heathrow and Manchester airports will start first

ATR Chases New Regional Markets for Twin Turboprops

Iran war and wider geopolitical pressure stall buying decisions

Embraer Racks Up E-Jet Orders at Farnborough

30 firm orders led by Abra

Gulf Air May Buy JetZero’s Blended-wing-body Z4

Japan Airlines also expresses interest at Farnborough Airshow

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN