South Korea’s budget carriers have begun to normalize domestic flights amid signs of containment in the spread of coronavirus.

Air Busan, a low-cost carrier under Asiana Airlines Inc., said Tuesday that it will resume services between Ulsan-Gimpo and Ulsan-Jeju routes on April 25, 55 days after it suspended the operation on March 1. “We will reopen the services after thorough sterilization measures and ensuring distance in seats,” an official from the company said.

The budget liner increased the number of flights between Gimpo and Jeju from twice to three times a day and Busan-Jeju route from three times to five times on March 16, becoming the first LCC to expand domestic flights during the pandemic. The company said the number of domestic passengers grew 42 percent since the expansion.

Other LCCs are joining the move. Air Seoul increased the number of flights between Gimpo and Jeju from 25 a week to 32 on Monday as its seat occupancy rate reached above 90 percent over the last weekend. The company expects the seat occupancy rate to go over 85 percent on average during this month.

Tway Air said it will operate the Cheongju-Jeju line for four times a day starting April 25 after expanding services for Daegu-Jeju routes on March 29. Jin Air has also added the Gimpo-Jeju lines to six times a day during weekdays and eight to 10 times during weekends. Jeju Air is servicing the Gimpo-Busan flights eight times a day until April 25.

The budget carriers are expanding domestic flights as Jeju Island, a southern resort island, has recently been emerging as an alternative travel destination of local people amid travel restrictions to overseas countries. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the number of domestic air passengers served by the five local LCCs excluding Eastar Jet, which has put its entire operation on hold, reached 263,440 last week, up 22.4 percent compared to the first week of March.

By Song Gwang-sup, Choi Geun-do and Choi Mira

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