"Increase Domestic Flight Supply"... Korea Airports Corporation Discusses with 9 Airlines

Inducing Introduction of Large Aircraft Including Extension of Landing Fee Incentives

Korea Airports Corporation has joined forces with nine domestic airlines to seek solutions to the shortage of domestic flight seats.

On the 2nd, Korea Airports Corporation announced that it held a meeting on the 29th of last month at its headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, with nine airlines including Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, Jin Air, T'way Air, Air Seoul, and Aero K to discuss cooperation plans to revitalize domestic flights.

From January to October this year, the supply of domestic seats decreased by 7.6% (1.44 million seats) at Gimpo Airport and by 5.9% (400,000 seats) at Gimhae Airport compared to the same period last year. By route, the Gimpo-Gimhae route dropped by 16.5% (1.03 million seats), and the Gimpo-Jeju route decreased by 5.7% (1.67 million seats).

The airlines explained that it is difficult to increase flights because, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising demand for international passengers has led to prioritizing the deployment of medium and large aircraft on international routes, and the delay in aircraft supply from manufacturers has postponed the introduction of new aircraft. They also cited the low profitability of domestic routes as a reason.

To encourage the expansion of domestic seat supply, the corporation decided to extend the landing fee reduction incentive for large aircraft (270 seats, over 100 tons), which was scheduled to end this year, through next year, and to reduce airport facility usage fees for airlines launching new domestic routes or increasing flights.

In particular, airlines agreed to closely cooperate with the corporation to assist public mobility by frequently operating temporary flights on routes with seat shortages such as Gimpo-Jeju and deploying newly introduced large aircraft on domestic routes.

Heo Ju-hee, head of the Glocal Business Division at Korea Airports Corporation, stated, "We will continue to cooperate with airlines to resolve the inconvenience experienced by travelers and local residents due to the seat shortage on domestic flights such as Gimpo-Jeju."

Heo Ju-hee, Head of Glocal Business Division at Korea Airports Corporation (fifth from the left), is taking a commemorative photo with representatives from nine airlines after a meeting at the Korea Airports Corporation headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 29th of last month. Photo by Korea Airports Corporation

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