Korean Job Discussion Forums

[4 months left]

Foreign Budget Airlines Flocking to Korea

More foreign airlines are making their way into the Korean market as the economy recovers. Foreign budget carriers in particular are luring Korean travelers with low fares, distinctive services, and niche routes.

Five overseas airlines will launch operations here between this month and January of next year. Air India on Monday already began to operate flights between Incheon and Delhi via Hong Kong, returning to Korea after a two-year absence.

Malaysia's AirAsia X will begin service connecting Incheon and Kuala Lumpur in November, while Ehihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates will launch flights between Incheon and Abu Dhabi and Thailand�s Orient Thai Airlines between Incheon and Bangkok in December. Hawaiian Airlines of the U.S. will connect Incheon and Honolulu in January.

AirAsia X is making the biggest splash among the newcomers, offering round-trip tickets to Kuala Lumpur for around US$300, nearly half the rate charged by Korean Air and Malaysia Airlines. AirAsia X charges separately for all in-flight services, including meals, movies and soft drinks, allowing passengers to choose what they want. For travelers willing to fly six and a half hours without perks, the flights are the cheapest way to reach the Malaysian capital.

Azran Osman-Rani (center), CEO of Malaysian budget airline AirAsia X, poses with a creation to promote an event offering W60,000 one-way fares for flights between Incheon and Kuala Lumpur that will launch in November (US$1=W1,175). /Yonhap
Orient Thai Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines fly niche routes that few high-cost carriers cover. Hawaiian operates connections to smaller islands throughout the archipelago for passengers arriving in Honolulu.

The rush of foreign carriers means much stiffer competition for Korean low-fare carriers, which are also seeking to expand their overseas operations.
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2010/08/03/2010080300636.html

[teretere]

Awesome. It's about time.

[Yaya]

The Air Asia flight from Incheon to KL departs at 11:20 p.m. so I'd think most passengers would be sleeping rather than eating or watching flicks anyway.

I wonder if you can bring food on the plane.

[Katie26]

Got mine! 125,000 won round trip Seoul-Kl. Nice-uh

[teretere]

I'm going to book as well.

But what are the most beautiful places to see in Malaysia?

I'm basically looking for beautiful nature + charming towns + great, cheap seafood.

I'm trying to avoid 5 star resorts with golf courses and high-rise condos (anything that looks like Jeju-do "development" basically).

[young_clinton]

[omar]

I just checked air asia's website and I am kind of in disbelife
they are selling tickets from Inchon to Kuala Lumpur for 30000 won one way
final price for 2 way with taxes comes out to 100000 won...........man I wish I knew when my vacation was, I would book this in a heart beat.

[fitzyvt]

Does anyone else have problems booking on the air asia website with their US credit card? I have always had problems booking on their site with an american card and it seems to still be the case. I was trying for two different flights to KL and it seemed like the first one went through. I tried for a second one and there was an error. I called up my cc company in the states and they said there wasn't even a charge for the first flight. Just seeing if anyone else has this problem?

[teretere]

[Louis VI]

I just about bought an Air Asia ticket to Malaysia this morning for a week over the Christmas holidays but the total return came to over 400,000 won and so I decided to pass. I paid less to go to Thailand through Jin Air last year.

[Yaya]

[peter07]

The great thing is, there are plenty of other budget carriers in Asia that are probably eyeing the lucrative Korean market. They include Air Phils, Tiger Airways, Pacific Flier and Valuair.

Not to mention that Korean budget carriers will hopefully expand international service like Air Busan and EA Star.

[Katie26]

oh ps=Thanks to the guy (If my memory serves me) who originally posted the news about the sale. I can't find the original message via the search function but Ta very much!