Retired aircraft still openly listed... Air Seoul’s mandatory safety information remains opaque for an eighth year

[Financial News] Air Seoul has not been keeping some aircraft safety information that it is required to disclose to consumers up to date, it has been confirmed. The aircraft information has gone nearly eight years without an update, and information on recent maintenance inspections, which is also subject to mandatory disclosure, was found to be missing. Critics say that leaving aircraft no longer in operation on the published list could confuse consumers trying to determine the airline’s actual fleet.
Based on Financial News’ reporting as of the 19th, Air Seoul had not updated its mandatory disclosure item, “Consumer Safety Information,” since November 2018. With the aircraft information that must be disclosed to consumers not updated for nearly eight years, changes to the fleet during that period have also not been properly reflected. Air Seoul added HL8073 to its fleet in July 2021 and HL8072 in March 2022, but their year and month of manufacture, among other details, were not listed in the consumer safety information.
By contrast, aircraft that were taken out of service in the past remain on the published list. According to the business reports of Asiana Airlines, from which Air Seoul leased aircraft, HL8266, previously operated by Air Seoul, was deregistered in December 2020, while HL8280 and HL8281 were deregistered in October 2021. Nevertheless, all three are still listed among the aircraft.
Industry observers have raised concerns that if aircraft safety information is not updated for an extended period, consumers may have difficulty verifying accurate information. The aircraft’s manufacturing date and maintenance history are among the safety-related details consumers can refer to when choosing an airline. Given the airline industry’s frequent fleet changes, including aircraft additions and deregistrations, consumers may find it difficult to determine which aircraft are actually in operation if changes are not reflected promptly.
Disclosing aircraft safety information is not a matter of corporate discretion; it is an obligation under relevant laws and notices. Article 4(5) of the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising requires business operators to display and advertise important information designated by the Fair Trade Commission. Accordingly, through its “Notice on Important Matters for Labeling and Advertising,” the Commission requires air transport operators to disclose on their websites the aircraft’s year and month of manufacture, the date and results of its most recent maintenance inspection, and the standards for compensation and damages in the event of harm.
However, Air Seoul’s currently published consumer safety information does not include individual aircraft details—an item the Fair Trade Commission requires it to disclose—nor some other mandatory items, including the date and results of recent maintenance inspections. Legal experts say it may be necessary to examine whether these omissions violate relevant laws. Article 20 of the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising provides for administrative fines of up to 100 million won for business operators that fail to display or advertise designated important information.
A legal-sector source said, “Disclosing aircraft safety information is a minimum legal obligation established so consumers can refer to it when choosing an airline,” adding, “This is certainly a matter in which whether the law has been violated can be examined.” An Air Seoul representative said, “It appears that some information was omitted by the department in charge,” and added, “We will correct it promptly.”
Meanwhile, as soon as this newspaper began its reporting, Air Seoul updated the aircraft information on the relevant page that day.
[email protected] Jung Won-il Reporter