Jeju Air said on the 20th that it marks the 17th anniversary since it became the first domestic low-cost carrier (LCC) to begin regular international service.
Jeju Air, which launched international operations with the regular Incheon–Osaka route on Mar. 20, 2009, expanded mainly across Asia and now operates 58 routes.
During that period, Jeju Air's international passengers grew from 159,000 at an average annual rate of 27.5%, reaching a cumulative total of about 62,858,000 as of the end of last month.
In particular, Japan routes set a record last year with more than 4 million annual passengers, while Southeast Asia routes alone saw 360,000 foreign tourists.
Jeju Air said that as the role of an alternative competitor becomes more important after the business combination of Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines, it established the first competitive structure in an international market long dominated by full-service carriers and helped popularize air travel.
A Jeju Air official said, "Over the past 17 years, we have helped shift the market from supplier-centric to consumer-centric and have led the popularization of air travel," adding, "We will maintain a healthy competitive system and enhance the competitiveness of Korea's aviation industry."