An Air Seoul aircraft [Air Seoul]
An Air Seoul aircraft [Air Seoul]

Air Seoul recorded an average load factor of 96.6% on its Jeju routes from January through July, ranking first among all South Korean carriers, the airline announced Thursday.

The strong performance extended to international routes during the peak summer travel season in July. On three of its most popular routes — Narita (96.3%), Da Nang (97.3%) and Nha Trang (96.2%) — Air Seoul ranked first in load factor among all airlines, including foreign carriers.

The airline credited safety and service competitiveness as the key drivers of its strong results. Air Seoul is the only South Korean carrier to have received the top rating (A++) in the safety category of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aviation service evaluation for three consecutive years, a distinction the airline said reflects its commitment to the highest safety standards.

Air Seoul also offers the widest seat pitch among low-cost carriers in its peer group, providing a more comfortable cabin environment. The airline has further boosted passenger satisfaction through differentiated in-flight service, including a specialty meal developed in collaboration with chef Jeong Ho-young.

The chef collaboration meal carries an ESG (environmental, social and governance) component: for every meal purchased, 1,000 won is automatically accumulated and donated through a linked giving program.

"The support and trust of customers who chose Air Seoul have translated into overwhelming load factors on major domestic and international routes," an Air Seoul official said. "We will continue to place safety — the essence of what an airline does — as our top priority, while delivering differentiated customer experiences and sustaining our growth momentum."

Meanwhile, Air Seoul has been expanding its customer touchpoints through a range of marketing activities to mark its 11th anniversary, including hosting "Travel Awards 2026," a travel contest open to customer participation.

The contest, designed to celebrate 11 years of travel with customers since Air Seoul began operating out of Incheon Airport, invites participants to share their travel memories with the airline in video form or to propose new travel itineraries they would like to take in the future.


likehyo85@heraldcorp.com