[THE INVESTOR] T’way Air was named the best overall domestic budget carrier in a customer satisfaction survey, scoring high for its facilities and staff service, a consumer watchdog said Thursday.

According to the survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency on 1,000 consumers, T’way Air garnered the highest score of 3.52 points out of five, slightly ahead of Air Busan and Jin Air, each with 3.49. Eastar Jet and Jeju Air followed with 3.45 and 3.42 points, respectively.

T’way Air, a Seoul-based budget carrier, scored the highest in facilities and staff service, as well as reservation and boarding procedures, the KCA said.

Air Busan, which is based in the southern port city Busan, ranked first in flight management, in-flight facilities and airfare, it said.

Respondents showed high levels of satisfaction in the low-cost carriers’ staff service and reservation and boarding procedures, but were relatively less content with the in-flight environment.

Frequent fliers were less likely to opt for budget airlines, and 9 in 10 said they used the low-cost carriers because of their cheap prices, the agency said.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)