By Lee Hyo-sik
Koreans planning an overseas trip will have to pay more for plane tickets this year, with airlines lengthening the peak season during which air travelers are charged over 10 percent more for seats. Those taking domestic trips by air are also facing higher prices.
Airline firms say that they have no choice but to extend the peak seasons because there are more public holidays than in 2010, insisting there is nothing wrong with charging travelers more when air travel demand is high.
But many consumers complain that airlines’ extended peak season is tantamount to hiking airfares, arguing air carriers should shorten the length of the busy season and make efforts to lower ticket prices.
Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the nation’s two flagship carriers, said Tuesday that the number of peak season days this year reached 76, up from 57 in 2010. The busy period includes the Lunar New Year holiday (Feb. 1-7), the summer vacation (July 15 to Aug. 27) and the Chuseok holiday (Sept. 10-14).
Is it okay, if notified earlier?
The number of Sundays and public holidays amounts to 64 days in 2011, two days more than the previous year. In 2012, Korean Air’s peak season will number 69 days, while Asiana Airlines will charge travelers 10 percent more for 73 days.
Korean Air’s round-trip economy-class tickets for Gimpo-Jeju route costs 92,900 won during the peak season, compared with a regular price of 84,400 won.
Those traveling between Incheon and Tokyo with Asiana Airlines pay 560,000 won during the holiday season, 70,000 won more.
“There have been and will be more public holidays right before and after weekends in 2011, meaning that people more often take an extended vacation and travel by air. This is why this year’s peak season became longer than that of 2010. We announced the number of peak season days on our website a year ago,” a Korean Air spokesman said.
Asiana Airlines echoed its larger rival’s views, saying its peak season days fluctuate each year. “High airfares during the busy season are nothing new. It has been this way for years. But to make air travel more affordable, we will do everything we can to keep ticket prices low,” an Asiana Airline spokesman said.
However, many travelers are not convinced, insisting that the lengthened peak season is tantamount to raising airfares.
“I would like to take an overseas trip when seats are cheaper. But as a salaried worker, I can only travel during holiday seasons. For the majority of Koreans like me, airlines should refrain from raising ticket prices for the busy season,” said Lee Kyung-tae, who works for one of Korea’s major steel firms.
Lee said the government should stop airlines from extending the peak season and force them to work harder to keep airfares low.