Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr
T’way Air expands transit network to boost regional airports
A T’way Air wide-body aircraft is seen from above the clouds in this undated corporate handout photo / Courtesy of T’way Air
By Lee Kyung-min
T’way Air is expanding international transit services beyond Daegu to Jeju, accelerating a strategy to turn regional airports into global hubs, the budget carrier said Friday.
The airline said it began connecting international transit services at Jeju International Airport on April 1, following an earlier launch at Daegu International Airport on April 7, 2025.
At Daegu International Airport, the service — the first of its kind by a Korean carrier — has handled about 4,000 transit passengers in its first year, with monthly traffic surpassing 1,000 in March, the airline said.
Routes linking Daegu with Taipei, Osaka and Tokyo’s Narita have driven demand, while streamlined transfers have reduced the need for another check-in and eased entry procedures for foreign travelers, the carrier added.
Building on that momentum, the airline said it is now operating transit routes such as Singapore-Jeju-Fukuoka, becoming the only carrier currently offering international transit on Japan’s southern resort island.
The expansion effectively revives Jeju’s role as a transit hub after similar services were discontinued in the past, T’Way Air said.
To address security concerns tied to Jeju’s visa-free entry system, the airline said it has introduced a real-time notification system that shares passenger data with immigration authorities by analyzing advance passenger information and name records before arrival.
The carrier said it plans to further refine its operating manuals and response systems as the service stabilizes.
T’way Air also said it recently approved a plan at a shareholder meeting to change its corporate name to Trinity Air, with the transition to take effect after regulatory approvals.
A T’Way Air official said the airline aims to improve convenience for foreign travelers while revitalizing regional airports.
“We will continue to enhance service quality while prioritizing safe operations,” the official said.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.