Sacheon Airport Expands Sky Routes ... Seom Air Launches New Sacheon-Gimpo Service

Significant Increase from 4 to 12 Flights Per Day

A new Seom Air flight route has been established, connecting Sacheon Airport in Gyeongnam Province to Gimpo Airport.

On March 30, Gyeongnam Province held an inauguration ceremony at Sacheon Airport to celebrate the launch of Seom Air's new Sacheon-Gimpo route, marking an expansion of routes at Sacheon Airport.

The ceremony was attended by Governor Park Wansu, Sacheon Mayor Park Dongsik, Jinju Mayor Cho Gyuil, Seom Air CEO Choi Yongdeok, Lee Hwanju, Head of Sacheon Airport at Korea Airports Corporation, and Kim Jongchul, CEO of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI).

Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu is offering congratulatory remarks at Seom Air's 'New Regular Route Launch Ceremony from Sacheon to Gimpo.' Provided by Gyeongnam Province

Governor Park stated, "I sincerely congratulate Seom Air on commencing operations at Sacheon Airport. With this new route, accessibility from western Gyeongnam to the Seoul metropolitan area will be significantly improved, and the operation of 12 flights per day will greatly enhance travel convenience for residents."

He added, "Sacheon Airport is virtually the only airport providing access to the southern coast of Gyeongnam and serves as a key gateway for tourism in the region. Without revitalizing the airport, regional development cannot be expected."

He also pledged, "We will continue efforts to attract additional airlines and expand airport facilities."

He further announced, "By linking the establishment of the Korea Aerospace Administration and the development of an aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industrial complex, we will build an aviation industry ecosystem and foster Sacheon Airport as a growth hub driving the local economy and industry."

According to Gyeongnam Province, Seom Air chose Sacheon Airport as its inaugural destination, noting its role as a hub for the aerospace industry and a gateway to southern coastal tourism.

Going forward, the airline plans to sequentially open Sacheon-Jeju and Sacheon-Ulleung routes and use the airport as a base for expanding routes to the Seoul metropolitan area.

An ATR 72-600 aircraft operated by Seom Air flying the Sacheon to Gimpo route in Gyeongnam. Provided by Seom Air

After introducing a new aircraft in January, Seom Air completed test flights for the issuance of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC). On March 10, the airline was certified for operational safety by the Seoul Regional Office of Aviation at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, securing its qualification to operate.

From March 12 to 29, the airline operated four non-scheduled flights on the Sacheon-Gimpo route as part of its final checks, and from March 30, it will commence regular scheduled service.

The route will be serviced with the ATR 72-600 (72-seat) aircraft model from ATR, a manufacturer jointly invested in by Airbus of France and Leonardo of Italy.

This model is recognized for its safety and cost-effectiveness on short-haul routes and is operated in more than 700 units worldwide.

With this new service, the Sacheon-Gimpo route has increased from two round trips per day operated by Jin Air to six round trips per day, totaling 12 flights per day. The flight time is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes.

The province expects that the launch of this new service will greatly improve air travel convenience for residents and lead to a robust recovery in passenger numbers at Sacheon Airport.

It also anticipates that the enhanced service will not only meet the air travel demand of residents in western Gyeongnam but also contribute to revitalizing local tourism.

Additionally, the province plans to further promote Sacheon Airport by strengthening incentives for group tourists organized by cities and counties and offering expanded discounts linked to major tourist attractions.

Travel agencies that attract groups of five or more tourists will receive support payments ranging from 5,000 to 33,000 won per person, whether for day trips or overnight stays, along with additional benefits connected to major tourist destinations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.