Low-cost carrier extends route to Honolulu

By Choi Sung-jin

Jin Air, an emerging low-budget airline, has extended its service to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Since low-cost carriers, or LCCs, started business here in 2005, the Incheon-Honolulu route is the longest with nine hours, Jin Air officials said. The previous longest route was between Incheon and Guam, which takes six-and-a-half hours.

The Incheon-Honolulu route has five flights a week, with tickets costing 530,000 won ($450) including taxes _ half the cost of a ticket with other larger airlines’. The first flight was 97 percent full.

Jin Air is using B777-200ER planes for the route, narrowing the gap with its larger competitors. The company is offering more leg space for 48 out of 393 seats, offering a different level of service.

“The new route will offer opportunities to fly long distance with the LCC fare for the first time,” an executive said.