Published : Aug. 17, 2016 - 10:25
[THE INVESTOR] International low-cost carriers are increasing their flights against their fast-expanding South Korean counterparts, according to data released Aug. 16.
Nine international budget carriers flew 9,207 flights to and from South Korea this year through July, a 23.8 percent increase from the same period last year.
Peach Air
Vietnam’s VietJet and Japan’s Peach Air have been the most aggressive among them. VietJet increased the number of flights by 88.09 percent on-year to 884, adding service between Incheon and Ho Chi Minh in November. Peach flew 2,382 times, up 85.1 percent from last year.
Thai Air Asia X, Hong Kong Express and Spring Airlines of China also showed double-digit growth in flight numbers.
The number of South Korean low-cost carriers’ flights to and from Incheon International Airport jumped precipitously 50.64 percent to 28,255. Eastar led the uptick, expanding 72.13 percent to 4,453 flights, followed by T Way, Jin Air and Jeju Air. Jeju Air topped the total number of flights with 10,163, while Jin Air came in second with 8,643.
By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)