Jejuair to resume Incheon flights to Kagoshima, Hakodate, expanding Japan small-city routes

Jejuair announced Thursday it will resume flights on the Incheon–Kagoshima route starting Oct. 25 and on the Incheon–Hakodate route starting Dec. 1, with both operating seven days a week.

On the Incheon–Kagoshima route, flights depart Incheon International Airport at 12:40 p.m. and arrive at Kagoshima Airport at 2:15 p.m. local time. The return flight leaves Kagoshima at 3:15 p.m. and arrives back at Incheon at 5:05 p.m.

Located at the southern tip of Japan's Kyushu island, Kagoshima enjoys a mild climate and draws winter travelers with distinctive experiences such as the Sakurajima active volcano and Ibusuki's sand-bath hot springs. Local specialties including black pork shabu-shabu and sweet potato soju are also popular draws.

On the Incheon–Hakodate route, flights depart Incheon daily at 1:10 p.m. and arrive at Hakodate Airport at 3:30 p.m. The return departs Hakodate at 4:30 p.m. and arrives at Incheon at 7:30 p.m.

Hakodate, a port city in southern Hokkaido, is known for fresh seafood including sea urchin and snow crab, and offers the Yunokawa hot spring resort for relaxation alongside its dining scene. The Akarenga Warehouse district, which hosts a Christmas illumination event — one of the city's signature winter attractions — is celebrated as a "Santa village."

To mark the resumption of the Incheon–Kagoshima service, Jejuair is running a members-only promotion through Sunday offering discount codes of up to 20 percent off, along with deals on accommodation and shopping in Japan. A separate promotional campaign for the Incheon–Hakodate route is scheduled to launch in mid-October.

"Travelers planning a winter trip will now be able to experience a wider range of Japanese cities beyond Tokyo and Osaka, including Kagoshima and Hakodate," a Jejuair official said. "We will continue working to expand consumer choice with reasonable fares and offer new travel experiences through a diverse route network."

Meanwhile, Jejuair is offering a range of services to improve travel convenience during the Hangul Day holiday period. Passengers can use Smart Pass, a facial-recognition baggage check-in pre-reservation service operated by Incheon International Airport. Smart Pass also enables facial-recognition identity verification at departure gates, reducing the time needed for departure procedures.

In addition, Jejuair is the only South Korean carrier operating a waitlist reservation service for passengers unable to secure seats on sold-out flights. The service allows customers to apply for a one-way waitlist spot on a fully booked flight of their choice through the airline's website or mobile app.