South Korean budget carrier Air Premia Co. said Friday it has opened its first international cargo flight to Singapore to focus on the cargo business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air Premia plans to operate the Incheon-Singapore route every Friday at 8:30 p.m.

The company said it will consider starting passenger flights to Singapore depending on the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also plans to review whether to operate cargo flights to Vietnam next month.

Air Premia's Boeing 787-9 jet is a medium-sized aircraft with a cargo load of 16 to 18 tons.

In July, the carrier obtained government approval to use its aircraft for commercial purposes. (Yonhap)