|
SEOUL - SOUTH KOREAN budget carrier Jeju Air said Tuesday that it would start its first international route this week.
Jeju Air, which was launched in 2006, said a chartered flight would leave for Hiroshima in Japan on Friday, followed by flights to other Japanese cities.
'We will become the country's first budget carrier to offer international flights,' spokeswoman Park Mi Young said.
The budget carrier plans to open routes to China and Southeast Asian countries later, she said.
In January, Jeju Air signed a contract with Boeing to buy five 737-800 planes as part of plans to expand internationally. It will also lease more Boeing 737-800s by 2013.
South Korea now has two budget carriers in operation, including Jeju Air and Hansung Airlines. But six other discount carriers hope to offer domestic flights this year.
Incheon city has forged a joint venture with Singapore's Tiger Airways to jump into Asia's budget aviation market.
Discount carriers now make up 20 per cent of the US and European air travel market and are expanding quickly in China and Southeast Asia. -- AFP
| 
