Jeju Air Co., South Korea’s largest budget carrier, said Monday that it will expand its number of international flights in the winter months to meet an expected rise in outbound travelers and an influx of Chinese tourists.

The company, owned by Aekyung Industrial Co., said the planned increase in irregular flights will take place for routes departing from and arriving in Busan, the country’s second largest city, and the resort island of Jejudo, which is the main hub for the low-cost carrier.

It said flights from Busan to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and Vientiane, Laos, will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays, respectively.

The flights for Nanning, China, will also begin on Fridays, with two flights scheduled every week.

The budget carrier said four flights per week have been planned for the Busan-Chiang Mai route, with two set for the Busan-Vientiane route.

The flights from Busan reflect expectations that more South Koreans will be going abroad to enjoy warm Southeast Asian climates, while the Nanning-Jeju route is aimed at attracting more Chinese tourists to the resort island. (Yonhap News)