"Up to 12-Day Chuseok Holiday, Travel Instead of Ancestral Rites" Flights Selling Out Rapidly

With about a month left until the Chuseok holiday (September 28 to October 1), flights are rapidly selling out.

According to the aviation industry on the 29th, the reservation rates for major domestic and international routes of national airlines from late next month to early October are at 80-90%, higher than in previous holiday seasons.

[Photo by Yonhap News]

As the government is considering designating October 2 as a temporary holiday, creating a total of six consecutive holiday days, reservation rates, especially for medium- to long-distance routes, may increase further. Office workers can take leave from October 4 to 6 and enjoy up to 12 days off until Hangeul Day on October 9.

In fact, travel agency Chamjoeun Travel reported that after news of the consideration for October 2 as a temporary holiday spread, the reservation rate for overseas trips departing on September 29-30 increased.

The travel and aviation industries believe that the expectation of the first long holiday since the COVID-19 endemic is driving up Chuseok holiday reservation rates.

Korean Air has not disclosed specific reservation rates but is said to be nearly fully booked on domestic routes.

On the afternoon of August 28, an employee at the Modetour headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, is looking at the Chuseok holiday schedule displayed on a screen.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Asiana Airlines also did not reveal exact figures but stated that reservation rates are high on almost all routes, including Southeast Asia and Japan. Reservation rates for long-haul routes to the U.S. and Europe also exceed those of previous holiday seasons.

Jeju Air noted that since this holiday period is relatively long, routes with flight times over four hours, such as Southeast Asia and Oceania, are recording particularly high reservation rates.

The reservation rates for Incheon?Philippines Cebu/Bohol routes and Incheon?Guam/Saipan routes have reached the mid-90% range. In Japan, the Incheon?Oita and Busan?Osaka routes are the most popular, with reservation rates in the low 90% range. Last year during the Chuseok holiday, Jeju Air’s Incheon departures to Cebu and Bohol had only about a 60% load factor.

T’way Air’s average reservation rates for 10 international routes to Japan stand at 76%, China routes at 61%, and Southeast Asia routes at 57%. Domestic route reservation rates are at 66%. Reservation rates are expected to increase as the boarding dates approach.

Air Seoul reported that on the first day of the holiday, next month’s 28th, the Incheon?Da Nang and Nha Trang routes have a 99% reservation rate, and the Incheon?Boracay route is about 95%. Reservation rates for Japan routes are around 85-90%.

Jin Air also stated that most Chuseok holiday routes to Jeju are fully booked, and international routes to Osaka, Okinawa, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Taipei are popular.

Whether October 2 will be designated as a temporary holiday will be decided through discussions between the ruling party and the government, followed by submission to the Cabinet meeting agenda and subsequent deliberation and approval procedures.

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