Muan International Airport Launches Route to Kitakyushu, Japan

Advance Notice of New Operations in China, Mongolia, and Others

Muan International Airport is making vigorous strides as the gateway airport to the southwestern region.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 24th, following two routes to Vietnam, a new route to Kitakyushu, Japan, commenced on the 24th, and new international flights to Japan and China in June, and Mongolia in July have been announced.

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok (left in the photo) is seen shaking hands and conversing with Muan County Governor Kim San at the inauguration ceremony for Hi Air's international flight (Muan~Kitakyushu) held on the morning of the 24th at Muan International Airport passenger terminal.
[Photo by Jeonnam Province]

Domestic small airline Hi Air held a launch ceremony at Muan International Airport at 11 a.m. on the 24th and began operating the new Kitakyushu route.

At the launch ceremony, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, Kim San, Mayor of Muan County, Seo Sam-seok, Member of the National Assembly, and Kim Won-guk, Co-CEO of Hi Air, attended to celebrate the new Kitakyushu route with flower bouquet presentations and ribbon cutting.

Until now, Muan International Airport had only two international routes to Nha Trang and Da Nang in Vietnam. Starting with Hi Air's Kitakyushu route on this day, Korean Air's Nagoya route in June, Sichuan Airlines' Zhangjiajie route from China, and Hunnu Airlines' Ulaanbaatar route from Mongolia in July are scheduled to follow.

The Kitakyushu route departs Muan at 11:40 a.m., arriving in Kitakyushu at 1:30 p.m., and the return flight departs at 2:10 p.m., arriving at Muan Airport at 4:00 p.m., operating five times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Kitakyushu is a city located in the northern part of Fukuoka Prefecture in the Kyushu region of Japan. It is known as a representative industrial city as well as a leading environmental city in Japan.

It is the second most populous city in Kyushu after Fukuoka City and has recently become a popular overseas travel destination from Korea due to improved Korea-Japan relations. Notable tourist attractions include the world's first undersea railway tunnel, the Kanmon Tunnel, Kokura Castle, and its gardens.

Governor Kim Young-rok said, "I sincerely congratulate the launch ceremony of Hi Air's international flight, which will be a signal flare for the revitalization of Muan International Airport, together with 2 million residents of the province," adding, "We will continue to put more effort into financial support so that more airlines like Hi Air will newly operate at Muan International Airport."

He added, "I believe the best way to revive Muan Airport is the simultaneous relocation of Gwangju's civilian and military airports to Muan Airport, so we will actively communicate and cooperate with the government, Gwangju, Muan, and related organizations."

Kim San, Mayor of Muan County, said, "Muan International Airport was hit hard by COVID-19, but I hope it regains vitality with this international route launch," congratulating Hi Air on the launch of the Kitakyushu route.