Aero K Launches Cheongju-Hiroshima Route... First Regular Japan Service from Cheongju Airport

A New Era for Chungbuk's Air Routes
Aero K Signs Cooperation MOU with Hiroshima Airport, Signaling Expansion of International Flights

On July 16, Aero K Airlines launched a new Cheongju-Hiroshima route, marking the opening of the first regular flight service from Chungbuk Cheongju Airport to Japan.

This is the first regular flight to Japan since the opening of Cheongju International Airport in 1997, and is expected to serve as a significant milestone in the history of air transportation in the Chungcheong region.

Prior to the inaugural flight at 12:50 p.m. on this day, a brief commemorative event was held at Cheongju Airport. The event was attended by Aero K CEO Kang Byungho, Chungcheongbuk-do Vice Governor for Political Affairs Kim Sumin, Cheongju City Metropolitan Transportation Team Leader Lee Daehee, the head of Cheongju Airport, and other officials from related organizations, who gathered to celebrate the launch of the new route.

Subsequently, a welcoming ceremony was held at Hiroshima International Airport, attended by airport president Nakamura Yasuhiro, the vice governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, the Consul General in Hiroshima, and the chairman of the Hiroshima Airport Promotion Council.

During the event, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Aero K, Hiroshima International Airport, and the Airport Promotion Council to ensure ongoing cooperation for the activation of the route.

Kang Byungho, CEO of Aero K, stated, "The Hiroshima route is more than just a flight; it is a bridge connecting the citizens of Cheongju and Hiroshima. We hope that this new service will lead to more active exchanges between the two regions."

The Cheongju-Hiroshima route operated by Aero K will run four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday). Flights depart from Cheongju at 1:45 p.m. and arrive in Hiroshima approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes later. The return flight departs Hiroshima at 3:55 p.m. and arrives in Cheongju between 5:15 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., depending on the day of the week.

Hiroshima is one of Japan's ten largest cities, known for its historical sites such as the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, Peace Memorial Park, and Atomic Bomb Dome, as well as its popular local cuisine including okonomiyaki and oyster dishes.

Meanwhile, Aero K is preparing to launch a new Kitakyushu route in September, and plans to introduce two additional aircraft within the year to expand its international network to major Asian cities such as Weihai, Yantai, Okinawa, Nha Trang, Cebu, and Macau.