Jeju Air begins services on Incheon-Oita route

Jeju Air said Thursday it has started services on the Incheon-Oita route as it moves to absorb rapidly recovering air travel demand amid a nationwide move to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. Jeju Air, Korea's biggest low-cost carrier, will start providing three flights a week Tuesday, becoming the only Korean carrier to serve the Oita route, the company said. The budget carrier also plans to start offering services on the Incheon-Hiroshima route July 13. In the January-March period, Jeju Air shifted to a net profit of 48.19b won ($36m) from a net loss of 64.91b won a year earlier on increased flights to Southeast Asian countries. It swung to a record quarterly high operating profit of 70.73b won in the first quarter from an operating loss of 77.87b won a year ago. Sales more than quintupled to another record quarterly high of 422.29b won from 80.79b won during the same period. Jeju Air operated the same fleet of 37 B787-800 aircraft in the first quarter, down from 40 B787-800s a year earlier. This year, it aims to turn around after posting net losses for four consecutive years through 2022. <br/>