By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Jeju Air plans to increase flight frequency between Incheon and Guam from four times a week to possibly daily starting in July, according to E-Bae Kim, CEO of the Korean carrier.
Kim also said Jeju Air plans to launch a Busan-Guam route four times per week "in the near future."
The Guam Visitors Bureau said the island welcomed 3,232 Korean visitors last month. The arrival figure was over 3,000 percent more Korean visitors compared to April last year,
South Korea opened its borders for leisure travel on April 1. Travellers from all countries are allowed to enter the country provided they have a valid visa and have completed their Covid-19 vaccination and booster shots.
GVB officials and Jeju Air executives met ealier this week to discuss the future of travel to the island.
GVB said discussions were focused on flight frequency to Guam, opportunities in cargo transport and the importance of GVB’s PCR testing program.
Kim also said that in 2019, Jeju Air operated flights from Korea and Japan to Guam 54 times per week, accounting for 36.6 percent of the market share among Korean airlines, and would like to eventually increase flight frequency to this level once again.
The Jeju Air management team noted that the single most important incentive for Korean visitors to come to Guam is GVB’s free PCR testing program, especially for the family market that travels in groups of three or more.
The Korean government announced today that effective May 23, a negative antigen test conducted one day prior to departure will be accepted for entry into Korea.
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Officials said the travel policy revision was part of South Korea’s efforts to simplify the quarantine management system for overseas arrivals.
“My administration sees the importance of tourism to our economy and we are committed to supporting the airlines, travel trade, and local business community to recover our number one industry," said Gov. Leon Guerrero, who joined GVB officials during their meeting with Jeju Air team on May 12.
Carl Gutierrez and Gerry Perez, GVB president and vice president, respectively, welcomed Kim along with Kyong Won Kim, director of commercial strategy, and Hyun Jun Lim, GBV's branch regional manager.
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