Jejuair expands Incheon-Jeju route to three flights a week through March

Jejuair announced Monday it will extend its Incheon-Jeju route through March 27 next year and increase the frequency from two to three flights per week.

The airline launched the Incheon-Jeju service in May with two weekly flights, originally scheduled to run through the summer season. Jejuair will now extend the route through March 27 next year, and from Nov. 2 will increase frequency to three flights a week, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Since the route launched on May 12, more than 11,600 passengers had boarded through the end of August, with an average load factor of 87.1 percent. Foreign passengers accounted for about 30.4 percent of that total, or roughly 3,500 travelers. By nationality, Chinese passengers were the largest group at more than 1,170, followed by Americans at about 500, French at about 130 and Japanese at about 120.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Jeju Island via Jejuair has also grown sharply. From January through August this year, about 160,000 foreign passengers flew on Jejuair's Gimpo and Incheon routes to Jeju — a 28.8 percent increase from roughly 124,000 during the same period last year.

To mark the frequency increase, Jejuair is running a promotion through 5 p.m. Sunday offering ticket discounts and waived child fares.

One-way tickets on the Incheon-Jeju route for travel through March 27 next year are available from 26,200 won ($19), inclusive of fuel surcharges and airport facility fees. For select flights departing between Nov. 15 and March 19 next year, customers who book three or more passengers including at least one child aged 2 to 12 will have all child airfares waived.

"We will work to improve access to Jeju through the expanded frequency and extended operation of the Incheon-Jeju route, and contribute to the growth of Jeju tourism," a Jejuair official said.

Meanwhile, Jejuair is actively expanding its network to improve passenger convenience. The airline plans to resume service on the Incheon-Guilin route later this month and will operate charter flights on the Daegu-Guilin route.