Jin Air Co., an affiliate of South Korea’s largest airline Korean Air Lines Co., said Monday it has launched a regular flight to the southern Japanese city of Okinawa.

The debut service departed from Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at 10:35 a.m. on Monday and landed in Okinawa at 12:45 p.m.

The carrier said it will offer daily morning flights connecting the two cities with the 180-seat B737-800 passenger jet.

The latest move raised the number of routes operated by Jin Air to 12 destinations in seven countries, including Hong Kong and Guam.

Meanwhile, Peach Aviation Ltd., one of Japan’s budget carriers, plans to offer flights connecting South Korea’s second largest city of Busan to Osaka, beginning next September, according to the Busan Regional Aviation Administration.

Peach Aviation’s planned move is expected to heat up competition over the Busan-Osaka route. (Yonhap News)

Currently, Korean Air; Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea’s No. 2 flag carrier; and its affiliate Air Busan Co. offer 14 weekly flights linking Busan and Osaka, respectively. (Yonhap News)