"Can't Live Like This": Jeju Residents Erupt Over Airline Ticket Crisis, Launch Petition Campaign

Jeju Launches Petition Amid Seat Shortage
Sharp Drop in Seat Supply Due to Restructuring
Daily Life Disrupted, Including Access to Medical Care

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Amid soaring airfares and a shortage of available seats, the tourism industry in Jeju has launched a large-scale petition campaign to improve air accessibility.

The issue is not just a matter of tourism convenience, but also concerns the right to mobility for Jeju residents and the regional economy, leading to increasing calls for institutional reforms at the government level.

According to air traffic statistics from Korea Airports Corporation on May 21, the number of domestic flights to and from Jeju in April dropped by 5.3% (680 flights) compared to the previous year. The number of available seats decreased by 6.8% (165,689 seats), meaning that more than 5,500 airline tickets per day disappeared.

Although the domestic route load factor for Jeju in April reached 95.7%, the number of passengers actually declined. In particular, the Jeju-Gimpo route saw a 6.4% decrease in flights (427 flights) and a 5% decrease in passengers (61,714 people).

Compared to two years ago, the decline is even greater. In April 2024, there were 13,268 domestic flights to and from Jeju and 2,370,044 passengers, representing decreases of 1,006 flights (7.6%) and 180,868 passengers (7.6%) this year. This means that approximately 34 flights per day have been eliminated.

This month, the issue of reduced seat supply on Jeju routes has continued. Provisional statistics for the first two weeks (May 1–14) show that Jeju domestic flights decreased by 3.4% (212 flights) and passenger numbers dropped by 7.8% (80,751 people) compared to the same period last year.

As a result, local residents are expressing frustration, saying things like, "I can't go to a hospital in Seoul because there are no flights," and "We're trapped on the island."

The tourism industry points to the redistribution of slots (the departure or arrival times allocated to airlines) for the Jeju-Gimpo route, which was adjusted starting with the summer schedule, as a cause.

At the time, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport increased the share of low-cost carriers (LCCs) to prevent a monopoly by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. However, because LCCs primarily operate small aircraft, the overall seat supply has decreased as a result.

The Jeju Tourism Association stated, "The average load factor is virtually at full capacity, and the actual supply of seats has significantly decreased," adding, "Since air travel is a vital means of connecting Jeju and the mainland, the right to mobility for residents is under threat."

The association further said, "With the increase in fuel surcharges, there are growing concerns about a slowdown in the regional economy, so it is urgent to restore air transport capacity."

Meanwhile, the Jeju Tourism Association has been conducting a petition campaign since May 13 to address the lack of air seats to Jeju and improve accessibility.

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