Jeju Peak Season Booking Rate in the 50% Range... Airlines Want to Cry

Strengthened Quarantine Measures Including Ban on Entertainment Venues Gatherings
Increase in Vacation Season Reservation Cancellation Inquiries

On the 7th, at the quarantine station of Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, Korean residents, international students, and foreigners who arrived from Frankfurt, Germany after vaccination were lined up heading to the quarantine desks as the daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases exceeded 1,200 and imported cases steadily increased. On this day, for the first time since COVID-19, 10,000 people entered Incheon International Airport in one day.
Yeongjongdo - Photo by Airport Photojournalists Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The aviation industry, which had expanded domestic flights to meet the summer peak season, is now facing difficulties due to the reality of the 4th wave of COVID-19. As COVID-19 spreads rapidly, the reservation rate for Jeju Island, a representative summer vacation destination, remains in the 50% range.

According to the industry on the 15th, the reservation rate for Jeju Air's Gimpo-Jeju route during this year's peak season (July 26 to August 6) recorded just over 50% as of the previous day. T'way Air's reservation rate for the Gimpo-Jeju route during the peak season was also below half, at 47% as of that day. With the intensified spread of COVID-19, inquiries about cancellations are increasing rather than new bookings, raising concerns that the peak season load factor may decline.

An LCC industry official said, "As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeded 1,600 this week, Jeju Island has also strengthened quarantine measures, leading to an increase in cancellation inquiries for tickets booked during the vacation period."

In fact, Jeju Island has raised concerns by strengthening quarantine measures, including banning gatherings at entertainment establishments and ordering business suspensions starting from midnight that day. Jeju Island has recorded an average of 17.14 confirmed cases per day over the past week and is reportedly discussing raising the current Level 2 quarantine measures to Level 3.

The industry is closely monitoring whether the impact of the 4th wave of COVID-19 will affect international flights under the travel bubble (safe travel zone) implemented from this month.

Previously, airlines decided to resume flights to Saipan and Guam, where COVID-19 cases are low, from the end of this month. T'way Air will resume the Incheon-Guam route on the 31st, Korean Air on the 5th of next month, and Air Seoul on the 26th of next month. For the Incheon-Saipan route, Asiana Airlines and Jeju Air will resume flights on the 24th, and T'way Air from the 29th.

An aviation industry official said, "Since the peak summer vacation season is still about a week away, we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation," adding, "We will do our best to manage quarantine measures, including mandatory mask-wearing for passengers on board and regular disinfection of multi-use facilities."