Air Premia completes companywide emergency drill to strengthen safety readiness

Air Premia conducted a companywide emergency response drill at its Seoul headquarters on Wednesday, simulating an aircraft accident to test its response procedures and cross-organizational coordination, the airline announced Thursday.

The drill covered the full sequence of events from the initial accident through follow-up measures. Participants worked through early-response steps — including recognizing an emergency, disseminating information and mobilizing response personnel — before moving on to passenger support, accident management and coordination with relevant authorities, with each team carrying out its assigned tasks at every stage.

The exercise incorporated unexpected developments to test decision-making and response under changing conditions. Organizers closely observed whether each crisis response team fulfilled its designated role and whether the judgments and actions of individual units connected seamlessly, including procedures for coordinating with outside agencies.

"Aviation safety must be maintained through routine checks and repeated drills," said Yoo Myung-seop, chief executive of Air Premia. "We will continue to review our response systems so that each team can carry out its responsibilities accurately even in unforeseen situations, and we will keep preparing for safety."

Air Premia has been running a companywide safety culture campaign since Oct. 13 to raise safety awareness among employees and promote a culture of safety in practice. Yoo and other executives have signed a safety pledge, and the airline plans to extend the campaign to all staff through Oct. 30, with activities including a review of safety conduct guidelines and participation in the pledge.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the airline's own boarding data showed that its Wide Premium cabin on the Incheon–Los Angeles route recorded an occupancy rate of 83.2 percent from January through September this year, outpacing economy class at 80.1 percent by 3.1 percentage points.

The airline said the product — offering wider seats and differentiated service at a lower fare than business class — has drawn long-haul leisure travelers and business passengers alike.