After Taiwan and Japan... Jeju Air planes, averaging 14.4 years old, flew 418 hours per month

The Profile of Jeju Air, the No.1 LCC
Longest Operating Hours and Highest Aircraft Age

The average operating hours of Jeju Air passenger aircraft were found to be the longest among domestic airlines.

According to the quarterly reports submitted by each company on the 31st, Jeju Air's passenger aircraft had an average monthly operating time of 418 hours as of the third quarter of this year. This is longer than other low-cost carriers such as Jin Air (371 hours), T'way Air (386 hours), and Air Busan (340 hours). It is also longer than major airlines like Korean Air (355 hours) and Asiana Airlines (335 hours).

Jeju Air's average monthly operating hours were 167 hours until 2022, when travel demand was limited due to COVID-19, but increased to 394 hours last year and continued to rise steadily this year. The average operating time is calculated by dividing the total paid flight hours by the number of aircraft owned. The aircraft involved in the recent accident had flown over the previous two days mainly between Muan and destinations such as Jeju, Taiwan (Taipei), Japan (Nagasaki), China (Beijing), and Malaysia (Kota Kinabalu).

Firefighters are searching for fuel items at the site of the Jeju Air passenger plane collision and explosion accident that occurred at Muan International Airport, Jeonnam, 30 days ago. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Including cargo aircraft, Jeju Air's overall average aircraft age (years in service) is 14.4 years, the oldest among domestic airlines. According to the aircraft age registered in the Aviation Technology Information System by airline, it is longer than Jin Air (12.7 years), T'way Air (13.0 years), as well as Korean Air (11.1 years) and Asiana Airlines (12.3 years). Although the cause of the accident has not yet been revealed, it suggests frequent flights using older aircraft. The increase in air travel demand due to the endemic (periodic outbreak of infectious diseases) was not matched by timely aircraft supply, which also had an impact. The amount of administrative penalties and fines received from authorities was also the highest among domestic airlines for Jeju Air. On the other hand, the number of aircraft maintenance technicians was 469 as of the end of last year, down from 542 in 2019.

Meanwhile, Jeju Air has decided to support the funerals of the accident victims. Song Kyung-hoon, Head of Management Support at Jeju Air, said at a briefing yesterday, "We will prioritize support for the procedures of confirming the bodies with the bereaved families and placing them in the funeral hall," adding, "We will respect the bereaved families' wishes regarding the necessary funeral procedures."

The funerals for the accident victims are expected to begin soon. Of the 181 crew members and passengers on the accident aircraft, the bodies of 179 were recovered within about 11 hours and are temporarily placed in the airport hangar. Authorities have identified 164 of the deceased, and the identification process is ongoing for the remaining 15. The bereaved families who have received the bodies will hold individual or joint funerals according to their own decisions.