SEOUL, August 10 (AJP) - Jeju Air saw demand for its China routes surge as more travelers flew between South Korea and China following a visa waiver program between the two countries, the low-cost carrier said Monday.
According to the carrier, a total of 494,300 seats were available on routes between the two countries from January through July, up 26.8 percent from about 389,900 a year earlier, while passenger numbers also rose 37.4 percent to about 427,300 from about 311,000.
The airline attributed the surge to the temporary program, which runs through the end of this year and allows visa-free entry for short-term travelers for up to 30 days.
It also cited a shift from group tours to individual and small-group tours as another reason, with more travelers seeking local experiences rather than visiting several destinations in Seoul for sightseeing.
Travelers in their 20s and 30s made up the largest portion at 37.1 percent, with about 158,500 passengers in those age groups using Jeju Air's China routes during the period.
The most popular routes among these younger travelers included flights between Busan and Shanghai Pudong, Jeju and Beijing, and Incheon and Qingdao.
To capitalize on the boom, Jeju Air plans to increase its routes to more Chinese cities.
According to the carrier, a total of 494,300 seats were available on routes between the two countries from January through July, up 26.8 percent from about 389,900 a year earlier, while passenger numbers also rose 37.4 percent to about 427,300 from about 311,000.
The airline attributed the surge to the temporary program, which runs through the end of this year and allows visa-free entry for short-term travelers for up to 30 days.
It also cited a shift from group tours to individual and small-group tours as another reason, with more travelers seeking local experiences rather than visiting several destinations in Seoul for sightseeing.
Travelers in their 20s and 30s made up the largest portion at 37.1 percent, with about 158,500 passengers in those age groups using Jeju Air's China routes during the period.
The most popular routes among these younger travelers included flights between Busan and Shanghai Pudong, Jeju and Beijing, and Incheon and Qingdao.
To capitalize on the boom, Jeju Air plans to increase its routes to more Chinese cities.
"We will enhance our competitiveness by flexibly operating routes in line with travel demand and expanding services not only from Incheon but also from more regional airports," a Jeju Air spokesman said.
As of August, Jeju Air operates 11 routes connecting to Chinese cities including Beijing, Harbin, Jiamusi, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shijiazhuang, Weihai, Yanji and Zhangjiajie.
AJP Takeaways:
- Jeju Air's China-route passengers rose 37.4 percent to about 427,300 from January through July 2026, up from about 311,000 a year earlier.
- Jeju Air offered 494,300 seats on China routes from January through July 2026, a 26.8 percent increase from about 389,900 seats a year earlier.
- A temporary visa-waiver program between Korea and China, running through Dec. 31, 2026, helped boost travel demand by allowing eligible short-term travelers to enter without a visa for up to 30 days.
- Travelers in their 20s and 30s accounted for 37.1 percent of Jeju Air's China-route passengers, with popular routes including Busan-Shanghai Pudong, Jeju-Beijing and Incheon-Qingdao.
- Jeju Air operates 11 routes to Chinese cities as of August 2026 and plans to expand services to more Chinese cities, including through regional airports.
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