Today, Aero K Airlines became the eighth budget carrier of South Korea by operating a Scheduled flights between Cheongju, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, and Jeju Island.
Using an Airbus A320ceo aircraft leased from US-based aviation investment manager Carlyle Aviation Partners Ltd, it broke the silence of Five years.
"We are currently operating one A320 aircraft and considering receiving the remaining two after July, depending on market conditions," a company spokesman said.
The Newest airline has further plans to expand flights to Asian countries such as China, Taiwan, Japan and Vietnam, the company said in a statement.
Aero K had been given a license required to fly in 2019 with a two-year time frame within which the airlines had to apply for an air operator certificate as well as beginning their operation.
The prolonged process of obtaining the AOC and lack of government subsidies was among the major blows to the Cheongju-based airline.
Aero K, which obtained an AOC in December and was given the green-light to fly the Cheongju-Jeju route, but a “decline in travel demand due to pandemic” and company's “financial conditions” delayed its First Flight.
South Korea has two full-service carriers 'Korean Air Lines' and 'Asiana Airlines' which are under the verge of merger, and seven low cost carriers , Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet, T'way and Fly Gangwon.
In the year 2016, Aero K enjoyed wide media coverage last year after unveiling its gender-neutral uniform and promoting progressive values in an industry that has been criticized over its “hierarchical organizational culture.”
Earlier, Aero K CEO Mike Kang had quoted ,
“We wanted to start an LCC that adopts a global best practice and yet base ourselves in Cheongju,”
Pictures : Aero K.
