Jin Air launches Incheon–Yichang route, pledges to keep improving passenger convenience

Jin Air held an inaugural ceremony Thursday at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport to launch its new route to Yichang, a leading resort and cultural city in China's Hubei Province, and began regular service the same day.

Starting with the launch, the Incheon–Yichang route will operate twice a week — on Thursdays and Sundays — through Oct. 11. Outbound flights depart Incheon at 8:25 p.m. and arrive at Yichang Airport at 10:55 p.m. local time. Return flights leave Yichang at 11:55 p.m. and land at Incheon at 4:05 a.m. the following day, with a total flight time of about three hours and 30 minutes.

From Oct. 12 through Nov. 29, the airline plans to increase service to four flights a week, operating on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. All passengers on the Incheon–Yichang route receive a complimentary 15-kilogram checked baggage allowance.

Yichang serves as a gateway city with overland connections to Zhangjiajie, a world-renowned scenic destination. The new route allows travelers to explore Zhangjiajie's dramatic rock formations — including Tianmen Mountain, Yuanjiajie and Shili Gallery — more efficiently.

Passengers can also take in the majestic waterways of the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, one of Yichang's signature attractions, along with the Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydroelectric facility.

"This launch gives travelers heading to China's natural wonders — Zhangjiajie and the Three Gorges — a faster and more convenient option," a Jin Air official said. "We will continue to enhance passenger convenience by building on our differentiated route competitiveness."

With the addition of Yichang, Jin Air has been steadily expanding its Korea–China air network, which already includes routes from Incheon to Qingdao, Yantai and Guilin.

Meanwhile, as Jin Air prepares for the launch of the integrated "Jin Air" entity, it has been carrying out a range of customer service initiatives, including a joint emergency evacuation drill recently conducted with Air Busan and Air Seoul.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport organized the drill to verify that cabin crew from all three carriers meet the same high standard of safety performance.

With about 150 ministry officials and executives from the three airlines in attendance, 16 cabin crew members from Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul formed mixed teams to carry out the drill, joined by eight Jin Air flight crew members.