S. Korean budget airline sales surge in H1

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's budget airline sales surged sharply in
the first half as companies attracted more travelers and opened international
routes, industry sources said Sunday.
Jeju Air, the front-runner of the country's budget carriers, said sales soared
118.3 percent on-year to 36.6 billion won (US$29.7 million) in the first six
months of this year.
It operates a fleet of seven B737-800s passenger jets and Q400 propeller-driven
aircraft and maintains routes to two Japanese cities and Bangkok, Thailand, in
addition to domestic services.
Air Busan, based in South Korea's largest port, also said sales reached 27.3
billion won.
The company that is partly owned by Asiana Airlines, the country's second-largest
flag carrier, has five aircraft linking Busan with Seoul and the resort island of
Jeju.
Others like Jin Air, an affiliate of Korean Air, said sales jumped 150 percent to
26.1 billion won in the first half. The company with just four aircraft added
that its operating profit reached 1 billion won each in April and May.
Eastar Jet Co., the latest entry in the local budget carrier market, said since
it started commercial operations in January, sales have reached 10 billion won.
Industry sources, meanwhile said with budget carriers expecting to acquire more
aircraft and expand routes, sales may continue to grow in the second half.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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