"Risking Life to Save Tens of Thousands Won"... Low-Cost Airline Phobia After Muan Airport Accident [Report]

Citizens Waiting to Board at Gimpo Airport Experience 'Anxiety'

"I kept worrying on the way here. I wondered if I should cancel this even now..."

On the morning of the 30th, the area near the check-in counters on the 2nd floor of Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Lee Seohee

On the morning of the 30th at Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, office worker Kim (43) could not hide his troubled expression. Next to the Jeju Air passenger plane bound for Osaka, Japan, scheduled to board at 8:20 a.m., the words "Boarding" were flashing. However, perhaps due to the aftermath of the accident that occurred the day before, the check-in counter was noticeably quiet. Kim said, "Jeju Air contacted me yesterday saying they would cancel the reservation free of charge. From last night until this morning, I think I agonized dozens of times over whether I should cancel even now," adding, "Since it was a family trip planned using all my remaining annual leave for the New Year, I did not cancel, but my steps toward the trip feel heavy."

On the same day, Im Daecheon (56) and Lee Miseon (53), a couple who came to the airport early in the morning to see off their daughter departing for Kaohsiung, Taiwan via T'way Air, also could not hide their worries. Watching their daughter's back until she disappeared from sight at the boarding gate, Mr. Im said, "How could I not worry after seeing yesterday's accident? Even on the way here, I asked my daughter several times if she could delay her departure a bit," adding, "My daughter has to go today because of her academic schedule, but if it were up to her, she would have canceled the reservation and taken another flight."

On the morning of the 30th, the area near the check-in counters on the 2nd floor of Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Lee Seohee

The Jeju Air passenger plane landing accident at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, has increased anxiety among travelers planning to depart around the year-end and New Year holidays. Especially since aircraft defects (landing gear malfunction) have been cited as one of the causes of the accident, safety concerns about low-cost carriers (LCC) seem to be spreading.

Kim Ji-in (30), who planned to travel to Tokyo, Japan via T'way Air around mid-next month, also hurriedly looked into how to cancel her flight reservation the day before. Kim said, "I usually use low-cost carriers for Japan or Southeast Asia because the seats are uncomfortable but the prices are cheap, but after watching yesterday's accident, I thought that saving tens of thousands of won might risk my life," adding, "The cancellation fees are not trivial, but I think I will pay more and use a major airline."

Seo Youngwon (36), an office worker who frequently travels abroad for business, also expressed concern, saying, "I usually use low-cost carriers for short business trips, but thinking that I might have been on the plane that crashed yesterday was terrifying," adding, "Since the prices are cheap, I guess the aircraft models are outdated and old. From now on, even if I have to pay more, I will avoid low-cost carriers."

On the morning of the 30th, the area near the check-in counters on the 2nd floor of Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Lee Seohee

Not only low-cost carriers but also many people have developed a fear of flying itself. This is due to a series of recent major passenger plane accidents, including the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight heading from Azerbaijan to Russia on the 25th, which killed 38 passengers. Yoon (25), an office worker living in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, said, "Frequent recent aircraft accidents have lowered trust in airlines themselves," adding, "Because of this accident, I think I will avoid flying altogether. I plan to travel mostly domestically."

Meanwhile, at around 9:03 a.m. the previous day, Jeju Air flight 7C2216, arriving at Muan International Airport in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, from Bangkok, Thailand, crashed while attempting to land on the runway, hitting the outer wall and exploding. Of the 181 passengers on board, 179 lost their lives, excluding two flight attendants. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and related authorities, along with Jeju Air, have pledged to do their best to support the victims and accurately determine the cause of the accident.