South Korean budget airline Jin Air is flexing its muscles, eyeing international air services by late this year.
News reports from local papers say the eight-month-old airline, a full subsidiary of Korean Air, is planning to operate flights to yet-to-be-identified cities in China and Thailand by October.
Jin Air, which joined the growing roster of Korean low-cost carriers in July last year with its first flight from Seoul to Jeju Island, is using a combination of image and sensible management to maintain fares that are 20 percent lower than existing domestic legacy airlines. It is made up of a 200-strong workforce, which understands the importance of multi tasking.
The cabin crew not only serve passengers but keep the aircraft tidy and check boarding passes at the gate as well. Jin Air is manned by pilots seconded from Korean Air to help the carrier through its early stages. “Jin” originates from the Korean word for “genuine” or “true”, which according to top executives reflects the service culture permeating onboard. Besides Jeju, Jin Air also flies to Busan.
For more information, visit www.koreanair.com and www.jinair.com
Joshua Tan