Hunnu Air launches regular flight to Delhi on 28 September 2026

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Mongolia's largest private airline Hunnu Air launches regular scheduled flight from Chinggis Khaan Airport to Delhi on 28 September 2026.

On 28 September 2026, according to schedules, Hunnu Air flight MR301 departs from Chinggis Khaan for Delhi at 3.50 am, touches down in Delhi at 7.20 am before leaving Delhi for Chinggis Khaan under flight MR302 at 8.20 am and arriving in Chinggis Khaan at 4.20 pm local time.

Hunnu Air flies to Delhi on Mondays with its Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.

Sun Phuquoc launches Hanoi-Incheon, Ho Chi Minh City-Incheon flights on 25 August 2026

Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Sun Phuquoc Airways (SPA) announces that on 25 August 2026, it has simultaneously launched two direct flights from Hanoi to Incheon and from Ho Chi Minh City to Incheon, with one return flight per day on each route.

The Hanoi - Incheon flight departs from Hanoi at 4.20 pm and lands in Incheon at 10.45 pm local time; the return flight departs from Incheon at 12.15 am and lands in Hanoi at 3.10 am.

For the Ho Chi Minh City - Incheon flight, the flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 3.25 pm and lands in Incheon at 10.40 pm; the return flight departs from Incheon at 12.10 am and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 3.35 am on 26 August 2026.

Exclusive Pictures : Sun Phuquoc Airways Phuquoc Airport Office and Check-In for flight

 Photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Parata Air to launch flights to Shenzhen, Tianfu, Chongqing and Pudong by 2027

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Parata Air, the Yangyang-based low-cost airline of South Korea, has been granted 15 weekly flight rights and plans to enter the Chinese travel markets of Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, and Shanghai for the first time.

The airline plans to operate flights to Shenzhen, Chengdu Tianfu, Chongqing and Pudong by 2027 with its A330/A320 aircraft.

Aero K to launch flights to Chengdu, Beijing in November 2026

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Aero K, the Cheongju-based low-cost airline of South Korea, has been granted 13 weekly flight rights and plans to launch regular routes from Cheongju to Chengdu and Beijing in November 2026, with further possible expansion to Pudong and Hangzhou in the first half of 2027.

Eastar Jet benefits most from the rapid rise in the passenger volume to China

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to South Korea's Asia Daily, the South Korea-China air passenger market has continued to heat up this year. Driven by factors such as visa-free travel policies and increased demand for short-haul outbound tourism, passenger volume on South Korea-China routes increased by over 20% year-on-year in the first half of the year, reaching the second highest level for the same period in history. Faced with the continued recovery in travel demand, South Korean low-cost carriers (LCCs), in particular Eastar Jet,  are also accelerating the expansion of their China routes.

Data released on 19 August 2026 by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation information portal shows that in the first half of this year, passenger volume on routes between South Korea and mainland China (excluding Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) reached 9,544,512, a year-on-year increase of 22.3%. This not only surpasses the 8,754,786 passengers in the same period of 2019 before the pandemic but also approaches the historical high of 9,643,203 passengers in the same period of 2016.

If the current growth momentum continues in the second half of the year, the total number of passengers on South Korea-China routes this year is expected to exceed 20 million for the first time, surpassing the annual high of 19,857,325 passengers in 2016.

The increase in passenger traffic has prompted South Korean airlines to accelerate their expansion in the Chinese market. In April 2026, the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport allocated 25 routes to China, with 97 flights per week, to nine domestic airlines. Among them, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Parata Air and Aero K, four low-cost carriers, received a total of 80 flights per week, accounting for more than 80% of the newly added route rights, becoming the main force in this round of expansion of routes to China.

Eastar Jet has been granted 37 weekly flight rights and plans to launch or increase flights to Hohhot, Zhangjiajie, Xiamen, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. Once fully operational, its number of Chinese destinations will increase from 8 to 19. Jeju Air has been granted 15 weekly flight rights and will further expand its routes to Shanghai, Guilin, Chengdu, and Chongqing.

The visa-free policy is considered a key factor driving passenger growth in the South Korean aviation industry. China implemented a visa-free entry policy for holders of South Korean ordinary passports starting in November 2024, and extended this policy until the end of this year. South Korea also extended its visa-free entry policy for Chinese group tourists until the end of this year, further facilitating people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Middle East has driven up fuel surcharges on some long-haul routes, making the price advantage of short-haul destinations in neighboring countries like China even more prominent. Changes in Sino-Japanese relations have also influenced tourist flows to some extent. Data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) shows that approximately 2.05 million Chinese tourists visited Japan in the first half of this year, a decrease of 56% year-on-year.

The merged Jin Air begins operations on 17 March 2027

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul, three low-cost carriers under South Korea's Hanjin Group, will merge and operate under the unified "Jin Air" brand.

According to the Korea Herald, the boards of directors of the three airlines approved the merger plan on August 21 and signed relevant agreements. They plan to seek shareholder approval in December this year, followed by regulatory approval.

If all goes smoothly, the merged "Jin Air" will officially begin operations on 17 March 2027.

This integration will take place after the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. These two companies are the parent companies of Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul respectively.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines are expected to complete their merger on 17 December 2026.

The merged low-cost carrier fleet will reach 58 aircraft.

Among the three low-cost carriers, Jin Air is the largest and has the highest passenger volume. In 2025, Jin Air's passenger volume is expected to reach approximately 11.24 million, a record high. However, affected by exchange rate fluctuations, declining ticket prices, and industry supply competition, Jin Air suffered an operating loss of 16.3 billion Won in 2025.

Jin Air currently has an all-Boeing fleet of approximately 31 aircraft.

Air Busan is the second largest, with a fleet of 21 Airbus A321-series aircraft. Affected by factors such as a previous aircraft fire incident leading to a reduction in available fleet and capacity, the airline suffered an operating loss of 4.5 billion Won in 2025, its first annual loss in three years.

Air Seoul is the smallest, with a fleet of only six Airbus A321-200s.

Jin Air stated that this merger will integrate the routes, fleets, and other resources of the three airlines, expanding their operational scale and route network while improving service levels.

Jin Air stated that it hopes to become a leading low-cost carrier in Asia through integration.

After the merger, the bigger Jin Air will have 58 aircraft, making it the largest low-cost carrier in South Korea in terms of fleet size.

Korean Air launches flight to Hiroshima on 23 December 2026

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Korean Air launches scheduled flight from Incheon to Hiroshima on 23 December 2026.

On 23 December 2026, according to schedules, Korean Air flight KE2183 departs from Incheon for Hiroshima at 10.35 am, touches down in Hiroshima at 12.15 pm before taking off from Hiroshima for Incheon under flight KE2184 at 1.25 pm and touching down in Incheon at 3.25 pm local time.

Korean Air flies daily to Hiroshima with its A321neo jet.

Jetstar Japan launches flight to Kaohsiung from Naha on 6 December 2026

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Jetstar Japan launches scheduled flight from Naha to Kaohsiung on 6 December 2026,

On 6 December 2026, according to schedules, Jetstar Japan flight GK97 departs from Naha for Kaohsiung at 12.40 pm, arrives in Kaohsiung at 1.35 pm before leaving Kaohsiung for Naha at 2.35 pm under flight GX98 and landing in Naha at 5.50 pm.

Jetstar Japan flies to Kaohsiung from Naha on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with its A320 aircraft.

Air Busan launches flight to Kagoshima on 25 October 2026

 Report, photo copyright by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Air Busan launches scheduled flight from Busan to Kagoshima on 25 October 2026.

On 25 October 2026, according to schedules, Air Busan flight BX9627 departs from Busan for Kagoshima at 3.55 pm, touches down in Kagoshima at 5.15 pm before taking off from Kagoshima for Busan at 6.35 pm and arriving in Busan at 7.40 pm under flight BX9628.

Air Busan flies to Kagoshima on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays with its A321 aircraft.