SeomAir, a domestic regional carrier, said on the 10th that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has granted it an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). SeomAir plans to begin non-scheduled (charter) service on the Gimpo–Sacheon route starting on the 12th.
SeomAir intends to set fares at least 10% below the incumbent carrier on the route, a move that should make travel on the route more affordable for passengers once operations begin.
SeomAir obtained its AOC roughly two months after taking delivery of its new aircraft on Jan. 5. The airline completed 50 one-way demonstration flights on the Gimpo–Sacheon route on Feb. 19 and finalized an electronic flight manual and crew schedules at the end of last month, clearing the way for certification.
SeomAir will run the Gimpo–Sacheon non-scheduled service with two round trips a day, six days a week. Regular scheduled service on the route will begin on the 30th with four round trips daily. The airline will start selling tickets on its website from the 10th.
With SeomAir operating the route, passengers can expect lower fares between Gimpo and Sacheon. Jin Air currently serves the route, and SeomAir plans to price at least 10% below Jin Air’s fares.
A SeomAir spokesperson said, “The average one-way fare on this route is about 70,000 KRW (approximately $52.50), and we plan to offer fares at least 10% lower than the existing carriers.”
SeomAir operates turboprop aircraft — propeller-driven planes powered by turbine engines — which can use up to 45% less fuel than jet aircraft. That fuel advantage allows the carrier to offer lower fares compared with low-cost carriers that operate jets.
After launching Gimpo–Sacheon service, SeomAir plans to phase in a Gimpo–Ulsan route later this year. The airline is also targeting service to Ulleung, Heuksan and Baengnyeong airports.
Following President Lee Jae-myung’s recent directive to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to study direct links between Incheon International Airport and domestic airports, SeomAir said it will pursue routes connecting Incheon with regional airports.
Choi Yong-deok, SeomAir’s CEO, said, “With the AOC in hand, we are officially launching as a regional air-mobility carrier connecting islands to the mainland, schools to hospitals, and workplaces to homes. We will operate short, low-demand routes to address gaps in air-service infrastructure.”
