Eastar Jet resumes operations with sold-out flights after three-year hiatus

South Korean low-cost airline Eastar Jet Co. has recommenced commercial operations after a three-year suspension, with a flight from Gimpo to Jeju taking off at 6:50 am on Sunday.

On the day, all 20 flights between Gimpo and Jeju were fully booked.

Eastar Jet's management team, led by CEO Cho Joong-Seok, visited the boarding gate on Sunday to express their gratitude to passengers and present them with souvenirs.

The airline also hosted in-flight events on 12 flights that day, featuring games for passengers to enjoy and celebrate the resumption of operations.

Between March 26 and 28, Eastar Jet is scheduled to run ten daily round-trip flights between Gimpo and Jeju. The number will increase to 12 daily round-trip flights (168 flights per week) starting on Wednesday. Once the fourth aircraft is introduced, Eastar Jet aims to expand its Gimpo-Jeju route to 186 per week.

Eastar Jet had ceased all international and domestic flights in March 2020 due to management challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. Operations resumed with three aircraft after the airline received an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) for international air transport from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

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