Aero K Airlines Successfully Completes Non-Scheduled Hanamaki and Toyama Flights

[Financial News] Aero K Airlines is expanding routes to regional cities in China and Japan, with Cheongju International Airport as its hub. Following the successful completion of non-scheduled flights to Hanamaki and Toyama in Japan, the airline plans to operate routes to Yichang and Shijiazhuang in China and Matsuyama and Fukushima in Japan in October.
Aero K Airlines announced on the 29th that it operated two round trips on the Cheongju–Hanamaki route on the 19th and 22nd, and two round trips on the Cheongju–Toyama route on the 20th and 23rd. Japanese tourists were aboard flights departing Hanamaki for Cheongju on the 19th and Toyama for Cheongju on the 20th. About 350 group tourists from the two regions entered South Korea through Cheongju International Airport and stayed in the country for three nights and four days.
This was the fourth time the Hanamaki route had operated since it was launched in May 2024. The Toyama route operated for the first time. During the service period, a delegation from Toyama Prefecture visited Aero K Airlines' headquarters and requested the launch of regular services.
Aero K Airlines will launch its China routes with flights from Cheongju to Yichang on the 2nd of next month and from Cheongju to Shijiazhuang on the 3rd. Both routes operated this spring. Yichang flights will run twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, while Shijiazhuang flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Aero K Airlines is also currently operating the Cheongju–Datong route.
Among its Japan routes, Aero K Airlines will operate two round trips between Cheongju and Fukushima on the 9th and 12th of next month. The Cheongju–Matsuyama route is scheduled to operate three times a week, on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, starting on the 14th of next month. The Matsuyama route recorded a load factor in the high 90% range when it operated in June. Aero K Airlines is also pursuing the launch of the Cheongju–Okayama route in November.
An Aero K Airlines official said, "The Hanamaki and Toyama services provided an opportunity to confirm inbound demand from tourists in Japanese regional cities visiting South Korea through Cheongju International Airport." The official added, "We will steadily operate routes to regional cities in China and Japan to expand our international route network centered on Cheongju International Airport," and said, "We will work to attract more foreign tourists to the Chungcheong region."
As of the end of September, Aero K Airlines operates 15 routes in six countries, including the domestic Cheongju–Jeju route. Once the four routes scheduled for October are added, the number of routes will increase to 19. 
[email protected] Jeong Won-il Reporter