Jeju Air sizes up Japan, China routes

Local budget carrier Jeju Air is spreading its wings to focus on international routes this year, according to the head of Jeju Air at a press conference yesterday. Ko Yeong-seop said the company will focus on Japan for the next 12 months and then gradually consider routes to China. By the end of the year, the company plans to operate 35 chartered flights to Japan, from Incheon and Jeju, he added, “Larger carriers are suffering from surging fuel costs, and we see their cancelling of routes as a new opportunity,” Ko said. Jeju Air began the Jeju-Hiroshima route earlier this month and the first flight from Incheon to Kitakyushu in Japan took place last Friday. The Jeju-Hiroshima flight was the first international route operated by a local budget carrier. The carrier will operate its first flight from Incheon to Kochi, Japan,... [read full story]