IATA is the world’s largest airline industry association, with 374 member airlines from 129 countries. It plays a central role in the global aviation industry by setting and managing international standards and regulations for air transport, as well as assigning airline designator codes such as Eastar Jet’s “ZE.”
Eastar Jet obtained the IATA Operational Safety Audit certification on Dec. 30 last year, a mandatory requirement for full IATA membership. The airline was officially approved as a full member on May 4.
Eastar Jet held a ceremony at its headquarters in western Seoul on Friday to mark its IATA membership, with CEO Cho Joong-seok and IATA officials in attendance.
Eastar Jet said the membership will help the airline strengthen cooperation with global carriers and further enhance its safety management system in line with international standards.
“Joining IATA as a full member is meaningful because it shows that our safety and operational systems have been officially recognized at the international level,” Cho said. “Based on our safety capabilities that meet global standards, we will continue to grow into an airline trusted by our customers.”
The airline also received a perfect score of 100 in the safety category of the 2025 Air Transportation Service Evaluation conducted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Transport Institute.
Eastar Jet has also been expanding its international network. On May 1, the airline launched its Busan-Almaty route, becoming the first and only carrier to operate the service. The route operates twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, and the inaugural flight from Busan recorded a load factor of 99 percent, according to the company.
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