The new airline is expected to bring in hundreds of additional tourists to Guam each week. Jin Air will operate one incoming and one outgoing flight each day between Guam and Korea.
Jin Air president and CEO Jae Kun Kim said Guam is the airline’s second international destination, following Jin Air’s Seoul to Bangkok flight service.
Kim said the airline chose Guam as its second international destination because Korean tourists are enticed by the idea of a tropical island getaway.
“Guam is very popular in Korea because there are many beach resorts and golf courses,” said Kim. He added that Korean tourists are interested in escaping from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Being a low-cost carrier, more Korean tourists will be tempted to make the trip if the ticket price is much lower than other airlines, Kim said.
Kim also said that the new flight service will give Guam residents more flexibility and options for traveling to Korea. Korean citizens living on Guam will also benefit from the daily flight service, he said.
Kim said Koreans living on Guam will like the afternoon flights because it allows short weekend trips to Seoul.
The airline, which was only established two years ago, has experienced a lot of success in the Korean domestic market. Plans to expand services to the Philippines and other Asian destinations are in the works, said Kim.
According to airline officials, flights from Seoul will arrive at 3:30 in the afternoon and the turnaround flight leaves an hour later.
Airport officials said the arrival of Jin Air signals the start of what should be a turnaround year for the travel industry. Other airlines also recently announced an increase in flights and destinations, which airport officials previously told Variety was a sign of more passengers taking to the skies.
