Jin Air Launches First LCC Dedicated Cargo Aircraft and Cargo Seatback Service

Cargo Load Capacity 'Soars' "Will Surpass Profitability"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Jin Air is launching a cargo transportation service using the first dedicated cargo aircraft and cargo seat bags among domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs).

Jin Air announced on the 19th that starting from the 24th, it will deploy one B777-200ER converted into a dedicated cargo aircraft on the Incheon-Bangkok route. According to Jin Air, the Bangkok route will operate twice a week, carrying items such as clothing, electronic components, and mask materials. Additionally, the Incheon-Qingdao route will operate on a schedule of three times a week.

The B777-200ER dedicated cargo aircraft, which will operate its first flight this time, can carry about 25 tons of cargo, 10 tons more than the belly cargo method that uses the entire lower fuselage as a cargo hold. Furthermore, cargo seat bags will be installed on the front seats of the dedicated cargo aircraft to be used for cargo transportation. This is also the first case among LCCs.

Currently, Jin Air operates a total of four B777-200ER aircraft. Among them, three aircraft will be used concurrently for cargo and passenger transportation utilizing cargo holds and cargo seat bags according to market conditions, while one dedicated cargo aircraft will be operated mainly on routes with abundant cargo demand, maximizing aircraft operation efficiency.

Jin Air is the first domestic low-cost carrier to convert a passenger aircraft into a dedicated cargo aircraft. Since early October, Jin Air has been modifying the B777-200ER passenger aircraft by removing 372 seats in the rear section except for 21 seats in the front section, installing safety equipment, and after undergoing an aviation technical standards evaluation to verify safe operation capabilities, it received operational approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 16th.

The cargo transportation business using cargo seat bags is also the first among LCCs. Cargo seat bags refer to specially made cargo bags designed to carry luggage on cabin seats. Jin Air has also received operational approval from authorities for its self-developed cargo seat bags and plans to install them on the front seats of the dedicated cargo aircraft operating on the Bangkok and Qingdao routes starting from the 24th to begin cargo transportation services. In the future, cargo seat bags will be installed not only on the front section of dedicated cargo aircraft but also on other B777 passenger aircraft without modification, enabling more diverse air cargo transportation services.

Jin Air stated, "We will do our best to improve performance by fully utilizing strengths that other low-cost carriers do not have, such as owning large dedicated cargo aircraft," and added, "We will prepare for uncertain business environments through strengthening the cargo business, expanding domestic routes, reducing costs, and discovering new revenue sources."