Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Boeing Max crisis troubles carriers on Busan-Singapore route
Three airlines that provide or are scheduled to launch services between Busan and Singapore use B737-800s instead of the initially planned B737 Max 8s, as many countries and airlines have grounded the latter aircraft due to safety concerns. From left are B737-800s of Silk Air, Eastar Jet and Jeju Air. / Courtesy of Silk Air, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Airlines are replacing their troubled Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with other models for their mid-range routes, as they are left with limited options after the jets were grounded by the government after two devastating crashes overseas.
Silk Air, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, started flights between Busan and Singapore, Thursday, operating a B737-800 plane, and two Korean carriers ― Jeju Air and Eastar Jet ― also plan to use B737-800s on the route. All three had initially planned to operate B737 Max 8s.
Although the Busan-Singapore route had been considered “golden” due to high demand and profitability, the situation has changed following the replacement of the aircraft because the airlines need to leave a number of seats empty to increase flight range.
The distance between Busan and Singapore is 5,400 kilometers, but the Boeing 737-800 has as a maximum flight range of 5,765 kilometers, leaving little over 300-kilometer extra used for emergency situations. In order to increase flight range, airlines are left with no choice but to leave some seats empty in order to decrease the weight.
The Boeing 737 Max 8's maximum range is 6,500 kilometers and it is 14 percent more fuel efficient compared to the B737-800 models, the reason why it was considered an optimal aircraft for low-cost carriers' mid-range flights.
Normally, Silk Air's B737-800 operates with a total of 162 seats (12 for business and 150 for economy classes) but for the Busan-Singapore route, it leaves on average 19 economy seats empty on each flight, according to the airline.
Jeju Air's B737-800s usually have room for 189 passengers, but for the Busan-Singapore route, which the carrier will offer from July 4, it changed the seat arrangement of the aircraft to provide only 174 seats.
It planned to replace the B737-800 on the route with a Max 8, as it inked a deal with Boeing to bring in 40 jets in stages by that year. However, depending on the results of the crash investigation, the airline might be forced to find an alternative.
Eastar Jet, which also won flight rights from Busan to Singapore earlier this year, has decided to lease two B737-800s in mid-July for the summer peak season and the latter half of the year.
The additional lease comes as the carrier grounded its two B737 Max 8 planes due to safety concerns.
“The two B737-800 that are being brought in will replace the two grounded Max 8 planes so it will not affect current business operations and the two adopted planes will be used for the new routes and during the peak season.” Choi Jong-gu, CEO of Eastar Jet said in a statement. “We will decide whether to resume the operation of Max 8s after the aircraft's safety is confirmed and public concerns are eased.”
Experts point out the reduced seat capacity could take a toll on the carriers' profitability.
“Before the Busan-Singapore route was distributed, it was considered a golden route. However, each airline can only operate four times a week due to a shortage of slots and they cannot fill the planes to full capacity due to the short range of B737-800s. This could lead to deficits,” an airline official said.