New budget carrier to begin operations next week

BUSAN, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's newest budget carrier will begin commercial operations early next week with the goal of opening an international route in 2009, the company said Saturday.

Air Busan Co., which is jointly owned by Asiana Airlines, the metropolitan
government of Busan, and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said
operations will begin on Monday with an inaugural flight from Gimhae
International Airport in Busan to Gimpo airport, west of Seoul. The takeoff will
bring the number of local budget commercial airlines providing services to four.
The company said a total of 19 flights will be offered each day for the
Gimhae-Gimpo route, with Air Busan engaging in a code sharing arrangement with
Asiana that operates the same route.
The company also wants to start flights to Jeju Island in December and begin
international routes starting next year. It said two Boeing 737-500 planes were
acquired in August and prepared for the flight routes.
Kim Soo-cheon, the company's CEO, said Air Busan is seeking to become a regional
carrier that is distinct from other low cost carriers (LCCs) that have cropped up
in recent years.
He added that while ticket prices will be 10-15 percent cheaper than Asiana and
Korean Air -- the country's two major carriers -- the quality of service will be
much higher than rival LCCs.
"This is possible because of the close cooperation between Air Busan and Asiana
that will provide trained personnel and safety guidelines," the chief executive
said.
Kim said the company plans to acquire a third B737-500 in the near future in
order to service the Busan-Jeju route within the year.
He also said that by next year Air Busan will incorporate two longer-range
B737-400 passenger jets that can ferry people to China and Southeast Asia.
The company was first established in August 2007, with Asiana becoming the
majority stockholder in February.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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