Jeju Air tops Korea's air passenger count in 2021, outpacing full-service carriers

[Photo provided by Jeju Air Co.]

Jeju Air Co., the largest budget carrier in Korea, ranked No. 1 in passenger count last year, outnumbering full-service carrier Korean Air Lines Co., on surging domestic air travel demand and ongoing standstill in international travel.

Jeju Air carried a total of 6.51 million passengers in 2021, according to transport ministry on Tuesday. Its domestic passengers counted at 6.46 million in total, a record high and 2 million more compared to a year earlier. This placed its domestic passenger seat occupancy at 19.5 percent, up 2.3 points on year. The company topped the chart for the second year in a row.

Jin Air Co., also a low-cost carrier, followed Jeju Air in total passenger count with 5.84 million, trailed by its parent Korean Air Lines with 5.6 million.

On domestic routes, Jin Air flew 5.81 million passengers, the second largest after Jeju Air. Tway Air Co. came in third with 5.1 million passengers, outrunning full-service carriers Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, which recorded 4.8 million and 4.5 million, respectively.

International flight ticket sales remained subdued for all airlines amid ongoing Covid-19 situation that has restricted cross-border travels.

Korean Air Lines were traveled by 770,000 and Asian Airlines by 506,000. Tway Air recorded 55,000 passengers on international flights, Jeju Air 54,000, and Jin Air 32,000.

The busiest route of last year was Gimpo (Seoul)-Jeju, a popular resort island in southern Korea. The Gimpo-Jeju was traveled by a total of 2.4 million people last year, accounting for 38 percent of all air passengers.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]