Air Busan Opens Busan-Saipan Air Route... New Weekly Flight Once a Week

Passengers are boarding the Air Busan flight to Saipan, which launched on the 23rd.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Air Busan announced on the 24th that it has launched a new route between Busan and Saipan.

Air Busan began its first flight BX622 from Gimhae International Airport to Saipan at 8 a.m. the previous day. This route operates as an irregular flight once a week. The flight departs Gimhae International Airport at 8 a.m. and arrives at Saipan International Airport at 1:10 p.m. The return flight departs the local airport at 3:10 p.m. and arrives at Gimhae International Airport at 6:30 p.m. The flight time is approximately 4 hours, and an Airbus A321neo aircraft is deployed.

Saipan currently has a travel bubble agreement with South Korea, exempting travelers from self-quarantine upon domestic entry. According to the Mariana Tourism Authority, the local vaccination completion rate is 98.1%, making it a relatively safe travel destination.

Air Busan offers paid in-flight meal services on the Busan-Saipan route, including bulgogi and seafood rice bowl, and chicken sets. Travelers who wish to use the in-flight meal service can apply in advance through the Air Busan website and mobile web/app. Considering that the Busan-Saipan route is the only tourist route from a regional airport, Air Busan expects the number of passengers on this route to gradually increase.

Meanwhile, passengers on Saipan flights must carry a rapid antigen test English negative certificate and an English vaccination certificate within one day of arrival in Saipan to enter without quarantine.

An Air Busan official said, “Since Saipan is exempt from self-quarantine and is a relatively safe overseas travel destination, we expect tourism demand, including honeymooners, to gradually increase. Starting with this Saipan route operation, we plan to continuously expand international flights at Gimhae Airport.”