Asiana Airlines’ plans to launch a second budget carrier could be delayed as the government has rejected a flight certificate application, industry sources said Thursday.
Last year, Asiana Airlines received a license from the Transportation Ministry to operate a second LCC and accordingly applied for the air operator certificate last month. The AOC is granted when an airline passes all operation-related preparations and procedures.
According to the sources, the carrier submitted a revised AOC application Wednesday.
It usually takes about three months for the review process to be finalized.
Asiana Airlines, the country’s second-largest airline company, is pushing to get Air Seoul off the ground by the end of September as its second low-cost carrier in addition to Air Busan.
Air Seoul said it was confident of receiving the certificate, but reportedly conceded it may be difficult to start services on schedule.
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)