Eastar Jet to launch daily Busan–Hong Kong flights from October

Eastar Jet announced Monday it will launch a new Busan–Hong Kong route starting Oct. 25, its first Hong Kong service from Busan. The move comes after the carrier's Incheon–Hong Kong route, which began in March, posted an average load factor of around 90%, prompting the airline to extend the same Hong Kong connection to the country's second-largest city.

The route will operate daily, seven days a week. Departing Busan at 9:30 p.m., the flight arrives in Hong Kong at 12:10 a.m. the following day. The return service leaves Hong Kong at 2 a.m. and lands in Busan at 7:05 a.m. All times are local.

The Busan–Hong Kong service will be Eastar Jet's second Hong Kong route, following the Incheon–Hong Kong launch in March.

Eastar Jet said the Incheon–Hong Kong route confirmed strong inbound demand from Hong Kong travelers. Since its launch, the route has maintained an average load factor of about 90%, with foreign passengers accounting for roughly 90 percent of all travelers.

The airline said Hong Kong travelers show a strong preference for late-night departures. The Busan route was designed with a nighttime departure and early-morning arrival to cater to passengers who want to make the most of their daytime travel schedules.

Through the Busan route, Eastar Jet plans to draw Hong Kong tourists beyond the Greater Seoul area, where inbound demand has been concentrated. Travelers based in Busan will also gain a direct option to Hong Kong without having to travel to Incheon Airport.

"Through our Incheon–Hong Kong operations, we confirmed strong inbound demand from Hong Kong locals and their clear preference for overnight schedules," an Eastar Jet official said. "With the launch of the Busan–Hong Kong route, we will work to extend that demand to Busan and contribute to bringing more foreign tourists to the region and boosting tourism there."

Eastar Jet is also continuing to expand its international routes from Busan. The carrier currently operates about 50 routes with a fleet of 23 aircraft, 15 of which depart from Busan.

The airline is simultaneously expanding its China network. Starting Oct. 29, it will operate the Busan–Xiamen route three times a week, and from Dec. 3 it will add the Busan–Hangzhou route four times a week. Both routes are currently planned as Eastar Jet exclusives, leveraging China traffic rights secured in April to broaden international service from regional airports.