Jeju Air tops Korea’s air passenger count in 2021, outpacing full-service carriers

Jeju Air, the largest budget carrier in Korea, ranked No. 1 in passenger count last year, outnumbering full-service carrier Korean Air, on surging domestic air travel demand and ongoing standstill in international travel. Jeju Air carried a total of 6.51m passengers in 2021, according to transport ministry on Tuesday. Its domestic passengers counted at 6.46m in total, a record high and 2m more compared to a year earlier. This placed its domestic passenger seat occupancy at 19.5%, up 2.3 points on year. The company topped the chart for the second year in a row. Jin Air Co., also a low-cost carrier, followed Jeju Air in total passenger count with 5.84m, trailed by its parent Korean Air Lines with 5.6m. On domestic routes, Jin Air flew 5.81m passengers, the second largest after Jeju Air. Tway Air came in third with 5.1m passengers, outrunning full-service carriers Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, which recorded 4.8m and 4.5m, respectively.<br/>