Sacheon Airport to Resume Hi Air Flight Operations from the 25th

Sacheon~Gimpo Route Operates Twice Daily Round Trip

ATR 72-500 model from ATR to be deployed by Hi Air Airlines on the Sacheon-Gimpo route starting from the 25th. (Photo by Gyeongnam Province)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Aircraft operations at Sacheon Airport, the only airport in western Gyeongnam, which have been completely suspended since last March due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), will resume.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 14th that the small air transport operator "Hi Air" is scheduled to newly launch the Sacheon-Gimpo route starting from the 25th.

Hi Air has been preparing in advance since early this year to operate at Sacheon Airport, and received approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 11th for the final step of the new route launch, the operation system change inspection.

The aircraft to be deployed is the ATR 72-500 model from ATR. This eco-friendly aircraft reduces carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs by about 40% compared to similar models. The existing 72 seats have been improved to 50 premium seats, offering passengers a more comfortable environment at an economical cost.

Hi Air plans to operate two round trips daily between Sacheon and Gimpo starting from the 25th. In the initial phase, flights will depart from Gimpo Airport at 2:00 PM and 3:40 PM, and from Sacheon Airport at 3:40 PM and 7:00 PM, with a flight duration of approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

From the regular winter schedule starting October 25, two round-trip flights will operate daily in the morning and afternoon. During the Chuseok holiday period (October 1 to October 5), three round-trip flights will operate daily to facilitate the convenience of returning travelers. There are also plans to actively consider operating routes to Jeju in the future.

The Sacheon branch of Korea Airports Corporation has established special quarantine measures to prevent the local spread of COVID-19 through the airport, including installing non-contact thermal cameras for passengers and conducting regular disinfection of customer contact facilities such as entrances and waiting room chairs, striving to provide safe air travel services.

Park Jeong-jun, Director of the Western Region Development Bureau, said, “Based on our partnership with Hi Air, we will strive to maintain stable routes and will not spare administrative and financial support to attract more airlines to Sacheon Airport and sustain continuous air routes. We will do our best to normalize Sacheon Airport, including the prompt resumption of Jeju route operations.”