Airline Announces Flight Reductions Amid Ongoing Safety Review and Investigation into December Tragedy
Jeju Air, South Korea’s budget carrier, has announced plans to reduce its flight schedule by approximately 1,900 services by March 2024, in response to the deadly crash at Muan International Airport on December 29, 2024. This decision comes as part of the airline’s efforts to review and enhance its safety measures following the tragic incident, which has raised concerns about its operational procedures.
Song Kyung-hoon, the head of Jeju Air’s management support division, confirmed the flight reductions during a briefing on January 3, noting that both domestic and international routes would be affected. Routes to Japan and Southeast Asia, particularly those with multiple daily flights such as Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and Da Nang, will see significant cuts. The airline plans to reduce its operations by up to 15% during the winter period to prioritise safety and minimise disruptions to passengers.
These reductions are expected to begin with domestic flights as early as next week, while international routes will see cuts starting in the third week of January. To lessen the impact on passengers, the airline intends to cancel flights with the highest frequency, thus reducing the inconvenience for those holding existing reservations.
Following the crash, which led to the cancellation of around 67,000 bookings, Jeju Air has managed to avoid liquidity issues. The airline reassured the public that it holds sufficient cash reserves of approximately 140 billion won (S$242 million), despite the cancellations.
As part of the ongoing investigation into the cause of the crash, the South Jeolla Provincial Police Agency imposed a travel ban on Jeju Air’s CEO, Kim E-bae, and conducted a search of the airline’s headquarters in Seoul. Jeju Air has pledged full cooperation with the authorities to determine the crash’s cause and improve its safety practices.
Discussions are currently underway regarding compensation for the families of those affected by the crash, but details concerning funeral expenses and support payments have yet to be finalised.
