South Korean carrier Jeju Air said Friday it will cut around 1,900 domestic and international flights in the coming months. This comes after a devastating accident involving one of its planes that exploded into a fireball, killing 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board.
Affected flights and major routes
Amid measures to strengthen operational safety checks, Jeju Air’s chief of support division Song Kyung-hoon said, “For international flights, the cuts will primarily occur on major routes with high frequencies, such as those to Japan and Southeast Asia.” First Post reported.
Flight 2216 bound for South Korea The plane from Thailand made an emergency landing and skidded while attempting to land at Muan International Airport on Dec. 29. It hit a concrete structure at the end of the runway.
Song Kyung-hoon added, “We are currently undergoing the necessary administrative procedures. Once that is completed, we will guide passengers with reservations to book alternative flights of their choice.”
The reduction in flight operations by March will focus mostly on international routes. Jeju Air’s main routes include flights to Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka in Japan and Da Nang in Vietnam. By the third week of the flight reduction, the budget airline plans to cut operations by 15 percent.
Shortly after the tragic accident and as of the afternoon of Dec. 30, Jeju Air had canceled about 67,000 reservations. These cancellations covered 33,000 domestic bookings and 34,000 international bookings.
“Today, we will lift the rear part of the plane,” South Jeolla Provincial Police Chief Na Won-ho said, according to the First Post. On Friday, investigators recovered parts of the burned fuselage using large yellow cranes, including the engine and tail section. During a press conference at Muan International Airport, Na Won-ho said they expect to find more human remains.
