"No Flights Available Even When Planning a Jeju Trip"…Shrinking Air Routes Hit by Image Damage

Airlines Cut Jeju Flights Due to Profitability Concerns
Jeju Governor Officially Requests Increased Flights from Airlines

As the peak spring travel season approaches, flights to and from Jeju are sold out, causing inconvenience for both residents and travelers. This phenomenon is due to the aggressive expansion of new routes by Japanese airlines, while flights to Jeju are gradually decreasing.

Both Jeju residents and tourists are experiencing difficulties as flights decrease. Pixabay

According to statistics from Korea Airports Corporation on the 8th, the number of domestic flights operating at Jeju International Airport decreased annually from 171,754 flights in 2022 to 161,632 in 2023, and 156,533 last year. Passenger numbers also dropped by 8.7% over two years, from 29,485,873 in 2022 to 27,759,212 in 2023, and 26,920,409 last year.

The number of domestic tourists visiting Jeju also significantly declined from 13.8 million in 2022 to 11.86 million last year.

In January this year, the number of domestic tourists was 863,583, down 9.4% from 953,547 during the same period last year.

Visitors during the March 1st holiday (February 28 to March 3), which was expected to boost tourism, also fell to 130,000, a 9.6% decrease compared to 143,794 during the same period last year.

This trend is due to the growing perception that domestic travel destinations, including Jeju Island, are "expensive and unsatisfactory," leading more consumers to choose overseas travel.

Airlines are focusing on expanding international routes for profitability, continuing the vicious cycle of reducing Jeju routes. Although Jeju Island is making various efforts to attract tourists, there is a shortage of airplane seats for travelers to board.

As residents’ inconvenience grows, Jeju Province has taken direct action. On the 17th, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon officially requested the expansion of flights originating from Jeju and the opening of new routes in meetings with Woo Ki-hong, Vice Chairman and CEO of Korean Air, and Lee Soo-geun, President and CEO of Korea Airports Corporation.

In response, Korean Air plans to establish a new Jeju-Jinju route operating five times a week starting from the summer schedule on the 30th of this month, and expand the Jeju-Yeosu route from three times a week to daily flights. Additionally, they are considering increasing the Jeju-Busan route by two flights per day and changing some Gimpo-bound aircraft to medium-to-large-sized planes.

With the increase in flight seats to Jeju, the province is actively preparing to welcome tourists. Starting from the 10th, it will expand private voucher support and promote the 'Jeju Workation' project, which enhances benefits for companies. Through this project, actual expenses for airfare, accommodation, and leisure will be supported up to a maximum of 300,000 KRW per person.

Jeju is also focusing on attracting domestic school trips. To ensure students from the mainland can safely enjoy school trips in Jeju, the province will allow schools to apply once a year for safety personnel employment subsidies, providing differentiated support ranging from 400,000 to 700,000 KRW depending on the number of students.