South Korea’s Jeju Air Co. achieved a milestone for a budget carrier of carrying 10 million passengers so far this year, a passenger toll only boasted by full-service airliners like Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.
About 44.7 percent, or 4.47 million, of its passengers used the airlines for domestic flight. Another 25.1 percent flew to Japan and 12.4 percent to Southeast Asian destinations, 10.7 percent to Chinese-speaking territories, and 6.8 percent to Guam and Saipan and 0.15 percent to Russia.
The airliner has made great strides compared with its humble record of 250,000 annual passengers in its first year of service in 2006.
Cumulative passengers traveling with the airliner since inception in 2006 totaled 48 million passengers.
Jeju Air, an affiliate of Korea’s Aekyung Group, is Korea’s first low cost carrier that was listed on the main bourse Kospi market in November 2015.
Shares of Jeju Air on Monday ended 2.09 percent down at 35,050 won ($32.19) from the previous session.
By Moon Ji-woong and Lee Ha-yeon
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]