Aero K Launches New Cheongju-Kobe Route, Expanding Air Access for Chungcheong Region

First Direct Flight to Key Kansai City, Kobe
"Foundation Laid for Transition to Regular Service"

Aero K Airlines, based at Cheongju International Airport, opened a new route between Cheongju and Kobe on August 8, establishing another air link to Japan.

This route marks the airline's fourth irregular service to Japan, following Ibaraki, Obihiro, and Hanamaki. Among them, Ibaraki and Obihiro have already been converted to regular scheduled flights.

Since Kobe Airport opened its new international terminal in April, it had only operated flights to Incheon International Airport. With the launch of the direct Cheongju-Kobe route, residents of the Chungcheong region, as well as southern Gyeonggi, Jeolla, and Gyeongsang regions, can now travel more conveniently to the Kansai area.

An inaugural ceremony was held at Cheongju Airport on the same day, attended by key figures including Aero K CEO Kang Byungho, Head of Sales and Transportation Chae Junghoon, North Chungcheong Province Deputy Governor Kim Sumin, and Cheongju Deputy Mayor Shin Byungdae.

The Kobe route will operate on August 11 and August 14, departing from Cheongju Airport at 13:45 and arriving at Kobe Airport at 15:15. The return flight departs Kobe at 16:15 and arrives in Cheongju at 17:45.

Kobe is a major city in the Kansai region, adjacent to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. It is famous for its gourmet cuisine such as Kobe beef, Arima Onsen, and the Kitano Ijinkan district, as well as its exotic atmosphere. The city is gaining attention as an attractive travel destination where Japanese tradition and Western culture blend together.

An Aero K representative stated, "Kobe is a city where nature and urban life, tradition and modernity coexist in harmony. Through this irregular service, we aim to lay the foundation for future scheduled flights and provide customers with more travel options."

Meanwhile, since launching international flights in 2023, Aero K has steadily expanded its network, focusing on small and medium-sized Japanese cities. The airline is also set to launch new routes to Kitakyushu in September and Okinawa in October. Within this year, Aero K plans to add two more aircraft to its fleet and expand routes to China and Southeast Asia.