"Busan Should Not Wait Only for Korean Air's Decision on Hosting the Integrated LCC"

[Financial News] Civic groups in Busan argued that the city must prepare for the possibility that the new integrated low-cost carrier (LCC), to be created through the merger of Busan-based Air Busan into Jin Air, may not establish its headquarters in Busan.
On the 31st, 13 civic groups from the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam region, including the Gadeok Hub Airport Citizens’ Promotion Group, held a news conference at the Busan Metropolitan Council and stressed, "What if the integrated LCC headquarters does not come to Busan?" They added, "Busan's aviation policy should not be to wait for Korean Air's decision."
The groups said, "It would be welcome if the integrated LCC headquarters came to Busan." They added, "The problem is that simply moving the headquarters address to Busan does not mean a regional hub airline. Core functions and decision-making authority, including route planning, fleet allocation, personnel, and organization, must actually be carried out in the Busan area."
They also emphasized that Busan should even consider establishing a new regional hub airline with Busan as its home base. Their point was that, ahead of the construction of Gadeok Island Airport, the local community should not wait only for Korean Air's decision.
On the 26th, lawmakers from the People Power Party in the Busan Metropolitan Council also held a news conference and stressed that "the integrated LCC headquarters must be located in Busan." They cited the need to revitalize Gadeok Island New Airport, a symbol of balanced national development in response to the Capital Region's dominance.
Jin Air plans to launch the integrated LCC on March 17 next year by absorbing Air Busan and Air Seoul. The three airlines each held board meetings and approved the merger. After an extraordinary shareholders' meeting in December approves the merger plan, only the remaining procedures are left, including regulatory approvals from the relevant authorities under the Aviation Business Act.

[email protected] Baek Chang-hoon Reporter