Korean LCCs resume flights to Taipei after nearly 3 years

As domestic budget carriers begin opening or resuming flights to Taipei, the skyways between Korea and Taiwan have widened further.

Jeju Air announced on Monday that it would recommence its Incheon/Busan-Taipei route seven times a week from January 18 next year. It has been 2 years and 11 months since it suspended the flights due to the COVID-19 crisis in February 2020.

Jeju Air operated a total of 732 flights on the Incheon-Taipei route in 2019, carrying 127,100 passengers. Even at that time, the occupancy rate reached 92%, which was considered a "golden route."

Meanwhile, Jin Air will launch a new flight route between Daegu and Taipei on December 29. The 189-seat Boeing 737 will fly five times a week, and from January 21 next year, it will increase to seven times a week.

T'way Air will also launch a new twice-weekly route between Jeju and Taipei on December 24 and will fly four times a week from January 3 next year. Meanwhile, from January 1 next year, the Daegu-Taipei flight is scheduled to run daily.

Write to Seo-Woo Jang at suwu@hankyung.com