The inaugural aircraft of SUM Air, a Regional Air Mobility (RAM) operator, departed Toulouse on Jan. 1 and landed at Gimpo International Airport on Jan. 4, according to the company.
The aircraft was formally handed over on Dec. 29 following the completion of leasing procedures with aircraft lessor Avation. It was registered in South Korea on Dec. 30 under the registration number HL5264 before departing France.
The delivery flight was conducted as a ferry flight, operating without passengers or cargo, and passed through Cairo, Muscat, Nagpur and Da Nang en route to South Korea.
SUM Air said the aircraft will undergo demonstration flights required for air operator certification. Following consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the airline plans to conduct trial takeoffs and landings in February at Goheung Airfield in South Jeolla Province, which has a 1,200-meter runway comparable in length to Ulleung Island's planned airport.
SUM means "island" in Korean, and the carrier plans to connect cities and islands, including Ulleung, Heuksan and Baengnyeong, once their airports open.
"SUM Air aims to address mobility challenges in regions with limited air connectivity and grow into a core regional carrier linking communities across Korea by revitalizing regional airports," said Choi Yong-duck, CEO of SUM Air.
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