Korean Air will raise its fares for domestic flights by an average of 9.9 percent starting July 18, the airline said Thursday.
Fares will increase by 6 percent for economy class seats on weekdays, 12 percent on weekends, and 15 percent during peak seasons. The fares for business class seats will be raised by an average of 26 percent.
“We have been running at a deficit since we have not raised the fares for domestic flights for a long time despite the rise in consumer prices,” said a Korean Air manager.
The move comes eight years after the last fare hiked in July 2004.
Accordingly, a one-way economy class ticket for the Gimpo-Jeju route on weekdays will rise from 73,400 to 82,000 won. At peak times, prices will go from 92,900 to 107,000 won.
The new fares will apply to customers purchasing tickets from July 18 onwards.
The airline said that for the Gimpo-Jeju route, for which there is no other direct means of transportation such as the KTX, it will offer discounted tickets on weekdays.
Other domestic airlines are likely to follow suit. Asiana Airlines raised its fares shortly after Korean Air did so in 2004.