"Urging the Withdrawal of Korean Air's Sacheon~Gimpo Route Reduction"

Sacheon, Jinju, Tongyeong Chamber Presidents' Press Conference
Opposition to Reducing Round Trips from 2 to 1 on the 1st
Concerns Over Losing Growth Momentum in the Aerospace Industry

The chairpersons of the Sacheon, Jinju, and Tongyeong Chamber of Commerce held a press conference on the 10th at the Sacheon City Hall briefing room, demanding that Korean Air withdraw the reduction of flights on the Sacheon-Gimpo route.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Son Tae-seok] The commerce and industry sectors in western Gyeongnam have demanded that Korean Air withdraw its plan to reduce flights on the Sacheon?Gimpo route.

The presidents of the Sacheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Jeong Gi-hyeon), Jinju Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Geum Dae-ho), and Tongyeong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Lee Sang-seok) held a press conference at Sacheon City Hall on the 10th, demanding, "Korean Air must withdraw its plan to reduce flights on the Sacheon?Gimpo route."

Earlier, Korean Air notified Gyeongnam Province that starting from the summer schedule on the 29th of next month, the Sacheon?Gimpo route would be reduced from 28 flights per week to 14 flights per week, and from 2 round trips per day to 1 round trip per day, citing an "annual deficit of about 3 billion KRW."

The chamber presidents and provincial, city, and county council members stated, "Reducing flights will lead to the stagnation of Sacheon Airport, causing the loss of growth momentum needed to compete with the world's leading airlines. Flight reductions must not be made for the continuous development of the aerospace industry, revitalization of the regional economy, balanced regional development, and transportation convenience for local residents."

They also added, "Eight cities and counties in the western region, including Gyeongnam Province, have secured a support budget of 1 billion KRW to revitalize Sacheon Airport and compensate Korean Air's losses," and "Efforts are underway to increase the compensation fund."

The chamber presidents and local lawmakers plan to deliver a joint petition to the Blue House, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Korean Air, and send cooperation letters to local members of the National Assembly.

Korean Air had announced a reduction plan in June last year as well, but postponed the flight reduction after Gyeongnam Province and the cities of Sacheon and Jinju proposed expanding the compensation fund support plan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.