Jeju Air
South Korea's first and largest low-cost airline, linking the country with domestic and Asia-Pacific destinations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Jeju Air Co., Ltd. is a South Korean low-cost carrier headquartered in Jeju City and named after Jeju Island, the destination with which its network and corporate identity are closely associated. Established in 2005 as a joint venture between Aekyung Group and the government of Jeju Province, the airline was created to introduce a lower-cost alternative to South Korea's two established full-service carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. It began commercial operations in June 2006 on the Jeju–Gimpo route and subsequently developed a broader domestic and international network. The airline's business is centered on scheduled passenger transportation. Its domestic services connect Jeju with major South Korean cities, while its international network has expanded across East Asia, Southeast Asia and selected destinations in Oceania. International growth became increasingly important after the middle of the 2010s, when domestic passenger volumes became comparatively stable. Jeju Air's low-cost model is supported by standardized aircraft operations, high aircraft utilization, direct sales and a pricing structure in which optional services can be charged separately. The airline also has an associated cargo offering, although passenger aviation remains its principal activity. Jeju Air became a significant force in South Korea's aviation market as its fleet and route network expanded. It helped establish Value Alliance in 2016, a pan-regional alliance of Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers intended to broaden connecting opportunities without converting the participating airlines into a single integrated carrier. The company was also the first South Korean low-cost carrier to complete a public listing on the Korea Exchange, giving it access to public equity markets and a higher level of disclosure than many privately held regional competitors. Aekyung Group is Jeju Air's largest shareholder, and Jeju Air has also been described as the largest shareholder of AK Holdings, the holding company associated with Aekyung Group. The airline's financial position and operational scale were affected severely by the COVID-19 pandemic, which sharply reduced international travel and required additional capital-raising measures. Operations and demand later recovered as travel restrictions were removed, although the company continued to face the cost, fleet, staffing and safety-management pressures common to commercial airlines. Jeju Air has positioned itself as an accessible, value-oriented carrier rather than a premium airline. Its brand emphasizes affordable fares, convenient links to leisure destinations and a strong association with Jeju's tourism economy. It has received recognition in South Korea's National Customer Satisfaction Index, including a first-place ranking in the low-cost-carrier category for a third consecutive year in 2024. The airline's current identity is nevertheless shaped by the December 2024 crash of Flight 2216 at Muan International Airport. The accident resulted in the deaths of 179 people and prompted intense public scrutiny, official investigation and commitments by the company to strengthen safety measures and rebuild passenger confidence.
History
Jeju Air was established on 25 January 2005 as a joint venture between Aekyung Group and the government of Jeju Province. Its original Korean name was 제주에어, a transliteration of “Jeju Air”; the company adopted its current Korean name, 제주항공, in September of the same year. It received an airline business license on 25 August 2005, making it the third major airline established in South Korea after Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. The company acquired its first aircraft on 2 May 2006 and began scheduled commercial service on 5 June 2006 with flights between Jeju and Gimpo. By the end of 2006 it had five aircraft. The route was commercially significant because Jeju is a major South Korean tourism destination and the Jeju–Gimpo corridor is one of the country's most heavily traveled domestic air markets. Jeju Air's entry introduced a more explicitly low-cost operating model to a market historically dominated by full-service airlines. During the following decade, Jeju Air expanded from its initial domestic base into international markets. It added routes to destinations in China, Japan, Southeast Asia and Oceania, while continuing to serve domestic cities from Jeju and other South Korean bases. By the late 2010s, international traffic had become the principal growth engine, whereas domestic traffic had been relatively stable since around 2016. In 2016, Jeju Air was one of eight Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers that helped found Value Alliance, described as the first pan-regional alliance built specifically around low-cost airlines. The airline's scale increased substantially before the pandemic. It carried more than six million passengers in 2017 and reported strong operating performance that year. In 2018, it carried approximately 7.3 million international passengers and 4.7 million domestic passengers. Jeju Air also became the first Korean low-cost carrier to be publicly listed on the Korea Exchange, following its initial public offering in 2015. The COVID-19 outbreak created an abrupt disruption. International borders and travel restrictions sharply reduced passenger demand, while airlines continued to face substantial fixed costs for aircraft, employees, maintenance and airport access. Jeju Air undertook capital-raising activity during the pandemic period, including a stock sale in August 2021, to support operations. The company had approximately 3,100 employees in November 2020 according to the cited reference material. As travel restrictions eased, the airline resumed expansion and sought to rebuild its pre-pandemic network. Jeju Air's safety record has included both non-fatal operational incidents and serious regulatory scrutiny. On 12 August 2007, Flight 502, operated by a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400, overshot the runway at Gimhae International Airport. Everyone on board survived, although four passengers were injured and the aircraft was written off. In March 2022, South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport suspended two Jeju Air flights for separate periods after finding failures to follow safety protocols. The most consequential event in the company's history occurred on 29 December 2024. Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-8AS returning from Bangkok, overran the runway at Muan International Airport, struck a reinforced concrete perimeter structure and caught fire. Four crew members and 175 passengers died, while two crew members survived. Investigators continued to examine the circumstances, including reports of a bird strike and problems involving landing-gear deployment. Following the crash, Jeju Air's chief executive pledged to strengthen safety management and restore public trust. The accident became a defining event for the company and led to heightened attention from regulators, passengers and the wider aviation industry. Jeju Air remains an active South Korean low-cost carrier. Its brand continues to combine an association with Jeju tourism, a low-fare proposition and a growing international network, while its future performance depends on demand recovery, fleet reliability, regulatory compliance, capital management and the outcome of investigations into the Muan accident.
- 2024
Customer-satisfaction ranking
[1]Jeju Air is ranked first among low-cost carriers in South Korea's National Customer Satisfaction Index for a third consecutive year.
- 2024
Muan International Airport crash
[1]Flight 2216 crashes during a runway excursion, killing 179 people and prompting investigations and renewed safety commitments.
- 2021
Pandemic financing
[1]The airline raises capital through a stock sale to support operations during the COVID-19 disruption.
- 2016
Value Alliance founded
[1]Jeju Air helps form Value Alliance with other Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers.
- 2015
Public listing
[1]Jeju Air becomes the first South Korean low-cost carrier to list on the Korea Exchange.
- 2006
First aircraft acquired
[1]Jeju Air acquires its first aircraft on 2 May.
- 2006
First commercial flight
[1]Scheduled service begins on the Jeju–Gimpo route on 5 June.
- 2005
Company established
[1]Aekyung Group and the government of Jeju Province establish the airline as a joint venture.
- 2005
Airline business license granted
[1]The company receives its business license on 25 August, becoming South Korea's third major airline at that time.
- 2005
Korean name changed
[1]The airline changes its Korean corporate name from 제주에어 to 제주항공.
Products and positioning
Value-oriented South Korean low-cost carrier focused on domestic connectivity, Jeju tourism and affordable Asia-Pacific travel.
Air transportation · 2006
Domestic passenger services
Jeju Air's domestic network links Jeju Island with Gimpo and other mainland South Korean cities. The original Jeju–Gimpo service remains central to the brand's connection with the country's tourism and island-travel economy. Domestic routes provide the foundation for the airline's identity and help feed its wider international operation.
Air transportation
International passenger services
International services extend from South Korea to destinations across Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Oceania. The airline increasingly emphasized international expansion after 2016 as domestic passenger volumes became comparatively stable. These routes are operated under a low-cost model focused on affordable base fares and optional ancillary services.
Air transportation
Air cargo
Jeju Air is also associated with air-cargo activity, although scheduled passenger transportation is its principal business. Cargo capability complements the airline's passenger network and aircraft operations rather than defining the consumer-facing brand.
Controversies
2021
SITA discloses cyberattack affecting airline passenger data
SITA said a cyberattack affected certain passenger data stored on servers of SITA Passenger Service System (PSS) Inc. The article reports that several airlines confirmed they were affected, including Singapore Airlines, whose roughly 580,000 KrisFlyer and PPS members were affected.
2019
South Korea fines three low-cost carriers for safety violations
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport imposed a total of W810 million in fines on Jeju Air, T’way Air and Air Seoul for safety-rule violations.
Brand decisions
2024
Commit to safety improvements after Flight 2216StrategyBackground
The Muan International Airport crash created an immediate need to address passenger confidence, operational scrutiny and the findings of official investigations.
Action taken
Jeju Air's chief executive publicly pledged to repair trust and strengthen safety measures.
Aftermath
The airline entered a period of heightened regulatory and public scrutiny while the accident investigation continued.
2021
Raise capital during the COVID-19 disruptionOtherBackground
Pandemic travel restrictions sharply reduced passenger demand and placed continuing pressure on airline liquidity.
Action taken
Jeju Air sold stock to finance ongoing operations.
Aftermath
The financing provided additional operating support while the airline waited for travel demand to recover.
2016
Participate in Value AllianceStrategyBackground
Asia-Pacific low-cost carriers sought ways to increase network reach and connecting opportunities while retaining separate operating identities.
Action taken
Jeju Air helped found Value Alliance with seven other regional low-cost carriers.
Aftermath
The alliance gave Jeju Air a cooperative framework for broader regional connectivity.
2015
Complete an initial public offeringOtherBackground
Jeju Air had expanded sufficiently to access public capital markets and become the first Korean low-cost carrier listed on the Korea Exchange.
Action taken
The company completed its initial public offering and listed its shares on the Korea Exchange.
Aftermath
The listing increased the airline's access to equity financing and public-market disclosure.
2005
Launch a South Korean low-cost carrierStrategyBackground
Aekyung Group and Jeju Province sought to establish a lower-cost alternative to South Korea's incumbent full-service airlines.
Action taken
They created Jeju Air as a joint venture and developed a scheduled airline centered initially on the Jeju–Gimpo market.
Aftermath
The launch established the first South Korean low-cost airline and created the platform for later domestic and international expansion.
Recent events
SITA discloses cyberattack affecting airline passenger data[3]
Reported:
SITA said a cyberattack affected certain passenger data stored on servers of SITA Passenger Service System (PSS) Inc. The article reports that several airlines confirmed they were affected, including Singapore Airlines, whose roughly 580,000 KrisFlyer and PPS members were affected.
South Korea fines three low-cost carriers for safety violations[4]
Reported:
South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport imposed a total of W810 million in fines on Jeju Air, T’way Air and Air Seoul for safety-rule violations.
Sources4 sources
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