Eastar Jet’s one millionth passenger, Choi han, a 39-year-old resident of Jeju, center, is presented with free flight coupons by the airline at Gimpo International Airport, Wednesday. The prize was to celebrate the airline’s first anniversary. / Courtesy of Eastar Jet |
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Low-budget carrier Eastar Jet, based in North Jeolla Province, will launch flights to Shanghai and Shenyang starting in late April, Eastar Jet President Yang Hae-gu said Wednesday.
The announcement came during a press conference in central Seoul to mark the airline's first year of operations. It was launched in January 2009 with eight daily flights between Seoul and Jeju.
The budget carrier is planning to provide services to the regions of Shikoku and Kyushu in Japan and increase its fleet of B737-700s from five to eight this year.
The B737 aircraft is one of the newest types of aircraft, and consumes about 15 percent less fuel than similar-sized planes.
The airline has recently been adding international routes, and started operating flights between Incheon International Airport and Kuching, Malaysia, on Dec. 24.
``This year is the start of the 'Open Skies' program between Korea, China and Japan. Based on our experiences in operating domestic routes, we are hoping to become one of most popular low-budget carriers in Northeast Asia,'' Eastar Jet CEO Lee Sang-jik said.
Open Skies is a multilateral air transport agreement that liberalizes the rules for international aviation markets and minimizes government intervention. The provisions apply to passengers, all-cargo and combination air transportation, and encompasses both scheduled and charter services.
Future plans include routes to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.
Demand for flights from Southeast Asian to Korea is expected to increase this year, on the back of the Visit Korea 2010-2012 campaign.
The airline operates Gimpo-Jeju, Gunsan-Jeju, Cheongju-Jeju and Gunsan-Jeju routes.
For more information, visit www.eastarjet.com.
jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr
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