Busan City and Busan Chamber of Commerce Officially Request 'Air Busan Separation and Sale'

Letter Requesting Cooperation for Separate Sale Delivered to Kang Seok-hoon, President of Korea Development Bank, Visiting Busan

Prolonged Integration Process of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, Continuous Decline in Air Busan's Competitiveness
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Busan City, in collaboration with the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, officially requested Kang Seok-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Development Bank, who visited Busan on the 12th, to separate and sell the regional airline Air Busan.

On the 12th, Busan City officially requested Kang Seok-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Development Bank (center), who visited Busan, to separate and sell the regional airline Air Busan.

At 1:40 PM that day, Mayor Park Hyung-joon, City Council Chairman Ahn Seong-min, and Jang In-hwa, Chairman of the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, delivered a letter requesting cooperation for the separation and sale of Air Busan to Kang Seok-hoon at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry reception room.

The city conveyed that, together with the local community and business sector, they share concerns about the disappearance of regional airlines due to the prolonged integration process of the two major airlines (Korean Air and Asiana Airlines), and expressed the opinion that the separation and sale of Air Busan is necessary to sustain the regional airline.

Air Busan, established in 2007 through joint investment by Busan City and local companies, is the only airline in South Korea operating based at a non-capital regional airport. As a regional airline, it has contributed to improving air transportation convenience for local residents and creating quality jobs, thereby benefiting the regional economy.

Although the integration plan between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines announced in November 2020 has been ongoing for over three years, the timing of the merger remains uncertain. As a result, Air Busan has experienced a continuous decrease in aircraft and loss of personnel, leading to a decline in competitiveness. Concerns about the future viability of Air Busan are spreading throughout the local community, and demands for independent management are gradually increasing.

Accordingly, Busan City, the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the local business community have united in their intention to maintain the regional airline through the separation and sale of Air Busan, to serve as a hub airline for the successful opening of Gadeokdo New Airport in 2029, and to urgently invest in strengthening the competitiveness of the aviation industry and revitalizing the regional economy for future growth.

Kang Seok-hoon, Chairman of the Korea Development Bank, stated, “I understand that the need for a regional hub airline will increase once Gadeokdo New Airport is completed. From around February next year, when the outline of the merger of the two major airlines is expected, we anticipate being able to engage in in-depth discussions.” He added, “I recognize and empathize with the aspirations of Busan citizens regarding the regional airline.”

Mayor Park Hyung-joon emphasized, “The unanimous opinion of the local community is that a regional hub airline is absolutely necessary,” and urged, “I earnestly request the Korea Development Bank’s cooperation in the separation and sale of Air Busan so that it can actively contribute to the revitalization of Gimhae Airport and fulfill its role as a regional hub airline in the future.”

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