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.