Eastar Jet

EASTAR JET Co., Ltd.
이스타항공 주식회사
IATA ICAO Call sign
ZE ESR EASTAR
Founded26 October 2007; 17 years ago (2007-10-26)
Commenced operations7 January 2009; 15 years ago (2009-01-07)
Hubs
Focus cities
AllianceU-FLY Alliance
Fleet size15
Destinations22
Parent company
  • Eastar Jet Group
    (2007–2021)
  • Sung Jung Co., Ltd
    (2021–2022)
  • VIG Partners
    (2023–present)
HeadquartersGangseo-gu, Seoul
Key peopleJoong-Seok Cho (President)
Websitewww.eastarjet.com
Eastar Jet
Hangul
이스타항공
Hanja
이스타航空
Revised RomanizationIseuta Hanggong
McCune–ReischauerIsŭt'a Hanggong

Eastar Jet (ESR; Korean: 이스타항공) is a South Korean low-cost carrier with its headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.[1]

History

Eastar Jet was established on October 26, 2007, and its air operator's certificate was acquired the following year on August 6. On January 7, 2009, Eastar Jet launched its first commercial flight from Seoul to Jeju with a Boeing 737. It commenced operations on its second route - Cheongju-Jeju - on June 12, 2009. Six months later, on December 24, 2009, Eastar Jet launched its first international flight from Incheon to Kuching, Malaysia. Within two years of commencing operations, the airline reached the 1 million mark in passengers carried on January 6, 2010.

The airline joined the U-FLY Alliance on July 27, 2016; it is the fifth member of the alliance.[2]

On 2 March 2020, Jeju Air, one of the South Korean Low-Cost Carriers decided to take over the management rights of Eastar Jet and signed a stock trading contract. Jeju Air acquired a 51.17% stake in Eastar Jet cost of 54.5 billion won.[3] and Jeju Air's M&A plan got approval from Fair Trade Commission of the Republic of Korea.[4] However, on 23 July 2020, Jeju Air announced that it was to give up the acquisition of Eastar Jet due to economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6]

In August 2020, Eastar Jet pushed forward to re-mergers and acquisitions and selected three companies.[7] Eastar Jet also began restructuring, the plan includes reduction of its fleet of 16 aircraft to four and reduce the labor force from 1,200 to 400; however, Jeju Air will rehire all of its dismissed employees.[8]

On June 17, 2021, it was announced that Eastar Jet was set to be acquired for more than US$97 million by property developer and preferred bidder Sung Jung, following an auction of the airline.[9] However, Sung Jung sold the entire stake of Eastar Jet to VIG Partners, a private equity fund company, in January 2023.[10]

Eastar Jet resumed operations in 2023 with three aircraft, supported by an investment from private equity firm VIG Partners. By the end of 2023, the airline had expanded its fleet to 10 aircraft.

During 2024, the fleet was expanded to 15 aircraft with the addition of four Boeing 737-800s and one Boeing 737 MAX 8. An additional 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8s were purchased. This time, the contract is for new planes rather than used ones, and the airline plans to take delivery of seven in 2025 and five in 2026, increasing the fleet to 27 aircraft by 2026.

According to AirPortal, an aviation information system of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the number of domestic passengers of Eastar Jet between January and October this year[when?] was 2.2 million and 1.48 million international flights, recovering to about 72% from 2019 (2.59 million domestic and 2.5 million international).[11]

Destinations

As of October 2024, Eastar Jet flies to the following destinations:[12]

Country City Airport Notes Refs
Cambodia Siem Reap Siem Reap International Airport Airport Closed [13]
China Dalian Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Terminated [12]
Haikou Haikou Meilan International Airport Terminated [14]
Harbin Harbin Taiping International Airport [12][15]
Jinan Jinan Yaoqiang International Airport Terminated [12]
Ningbo Ningbo Lishe International Airport Terminated [16]
Shanghai Shanghai Pudong International Airport [12][17]
Shenyang Shenyang Taoxian International Airport [12]
Yanji Yanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport [12]
Zhangjiajie Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport [18]
Zhengzhou Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport [14][19]
Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong International Airport Terminated [12]
Japan Fukuoka Fukuoka Airport [12][20][21]
Ibaraki Ibaraki Airport Terminated [12]
Kagoshima Kagoshima Airport Terminated [12]
Kumamoto Kumamoto Airport [12][22]
Miyazaki Miyazaki Airport Terminated [12][23]
Okinawa Naha Airport [12][24][25][22]
Osaka Kansai International Airport [12][26]
Sapporo New Chitose Airport [12][27]
Tokushima Tokushima Airport [12][28]
Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminated [12][29]
Narita International Airport [12][26]
Macau Macau Macau International Airport Terminated [30]
Malaysia Kota Kinabalu Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminated [12]
Northern Mariana Islands Saipan Saipan International Airport Terminated
Philippines Puerto Princesa Puerto Princesa International Airport Terminated [12][31]
Russia Vladivostok Vladivostok International Airport Seasonal Terminated [32]
Singapore Singapore Changi Airport Unscheduled Terminated [33]
South Korea Busan Gimhae International Airport [12]
Cheongju Cheongju International Airport [12][34]
Gunsan Gunsan Airport [12][35]
Jeju Jeju International Airport [12][36]
Seoul Gimpo International Airport Hub [12][36]
Incheon International Airport Hub [12]
Taiwan Hualien Hualien Airport Terminated [12][37]
Kaohsiung Kaohsiung International Airport Terminated [12]
Taipei Songshan Airport [12][38]
Taoyuan International Airport [12][39][40][41]
Thailand Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport [12][42]
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai International Airport [43]
Vietnam Da Nang Da Nang International Airport [12][44][42]
Hanoi Noi Bai International Airport Terminated [12][45][46]
Nha Trang Cam Ranh International Airport [12][47][21]
Phu Quoc Phu Quoc International Airport [12][48]

Codeshare agreements

Eastar Jet codeshares with the following airlines:

Fleet

Current fleet

As of July 2024, Eastar Jet operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet composed of the following aircraft:[51][52][53][54]

Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737 MAX 8
Eastar Jet fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
Boeing 737-800 10 — 189
Boeing 737 MAX 8 5 12 189 Redeliveries from June 2023[55][56]
Total 15 12

Retired fleet

Eastar Jet has previously operated the following aircraft types:[57]

Boeing 737-600
Boeing 737-700
Boeing 737 MAX 8
Eastar Jet retired fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Boeing 737-600 1 2008 2013
Boeing 737-700 6 2009 2018
Boeing 737-800 20 2012 2020
Boeing 737-900ER 2 2017 2020
Boeing 737 MAX 8 2 2018 2021

See also

References

  1. ^ "Office addresses". Eastar Air Inc. Archived from the original on 1 March 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  2. ^ "이스타항공, LCC 연합체 '유플라이 얼라이언스' 가입" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 28 July 2016.
  3. ^ "제주항공, 이스타항공 인수 계약...545억 규모" (in Korean). YTN News. 2 March 2020.
  4. ^ "공정위, 제주항공 이스타항공 인수 승인" (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 23 April 2020.
  5. ^ "제주항공, 이스타항공 인수 포기 공식 발표" (in Korean). Korean Broadcasting System. 23 July 2020.
  6. ^ "공정위제주항공, 결국 이스타항공 인수 포기 "불확실성 너무 커"" (in Korean). Seoul Broadcasting System. 23 July 2020.
  7. ^ "이스타항공, 재매각 속도…매각주간사 3곳 선정" (in Korean). EBN News. 19 August 2020.
  8. ^ "'생존 본능'...이스타항공, '기재 6대·700명 이상 감원' 가닥" (in Korean). Asia Times. 20 August 2020.
  9. ^ 최, 경애 (2021-06-17). "Preliminary preferred bidder set to acquire Eastar: sources". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  10. ^ "사모펀드 VIG, 이스타항공 인수…1천100억 투입 자본잠식 해소" [Private Equity Fund VIG Acquires Eastar Jet...Eliminating 110 Billion-Input Capital Erosion]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). 30 January 2023.
  11. ^ 기자, 박성수 (2024-11-13). "이스타항공, 항공기 늘리고 중국 하늘길까지···내년엔 정상비행". 시사저널e (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-11-13.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj "Flight route map". Eastar Jet.
  13. ^ "EastarJet to Resume Seoul – Siem Reap Service from Dec 2013". airlineroute. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
  14. ^ a b "EastarJet adds new routes to China in Sep 2019". Routesonline. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. ^ "EastarJet Adds Cheongju – Harbin from Oct 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  16. ^ "EastarJet Adds Cheongju – Ningbo Service from late-March 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  17. ^ "이스타항공, LCC 단독 인천-상하이 노선 재취항" [Eastar Jet, resumes Incheon-Shanghai, first in Korea LCC]. Sports Seoul. 20 March 2024.
  18. ^ "EASTARJET EXPANDS CHEONGJU INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FROM JULY 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  19. ^ "이스타항공, 오는 30일부터 인천∼정저우 주 4회 운항 재개" [Eastar Jet, resumes 4 weekly schedule to Incheon~Zhengzhou in next month] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 12 August 2024.
  20. ^ "EastarJet Delays Fukuoka Launch to late-July 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  21. ^ a b "이스타항공, 10월 29일 인천∼후쿠오카·나트랑 노선 취항" [Eastar Jet, launches to Incheon~Fukuoka·Nha Trang route] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 1 September 2023.
  22. ^ a b "EastarJet schedules new Busan-Japan routes in late-Dec 2024". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  23. ^ "EastarJet adds Miyazaki service from Dec 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Eastarjet Adds Seoul - Okinawa Service from late-Oct 2015". Airlineroute.net. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  25. ^ "Eastarjet resumes Okinawa service from July 2024". AeroRoutes. 8 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b "'국제선 재개' 이스타항공, 9월 20일 도쿄·오사카 노선 취항" ['Resuming international route' Eastar Jet, launches Tokyo·Osaka in 20 September] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 18 July 2023.
  27. ^ "Eastarjet adds Seoul - Sapporo service from July 2024". AeroRoutes. 25 April 2024.
  28. ^ "이스타항공, 내달 26일 일본 도쿠시마 취항…"국내 항공사 최초"" [Eastar Jet will launch in Tokushima, Japan on the 26th of next month..."For the first airlines in Korea."] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 19 November 2024.
  29. ^ "EastarJet adds Seoul Incheon – Tokyo Haneda in Sep/Oct 2018". Routesonline. 20 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Eastar Jet adds Macau service from Nov 2019". Routesonline. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  31. ^ "EastarJet adds Puerto Princesa service from late-Oct 2018". airlineroute. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  32. ^ "EastarJet adds Vladivostok service from June 2018".
  33. ^ "[International Flight] Notice on New Flights for Busan-Singapore Route (PUS-SIN)". www.eastarjet.com. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  34. ^ "이스타항공, 8월부터 청주-제주 노선 운항 재개" [Eastar Jet, resumes Cheongju-Jeju route in August] (in Korean). NBN. 15 June 2023.
  35. ^ "이스타항공, 내달 군산∼제주 노선 신규 취항" [Eastar Jet, launches Gunsan~Jeju route in next month] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 6 September 2023.
  36. ^ a b "Eastar to resume flights this month for turnaround". Yonhap News Agency. 14 March 2023.
  37. ^ "EastarJet adds Hualien service in W19". Routesonline. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  38. ^ "EastarJet 3Q23 Network Additions". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  39. ^ "EastarJet Adds Seoul Incheon - Taipei Taoyuan Service from late-March 2016". Airlineroute.net. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  40. ^ "이스타항공, 12월부터 지방발 국제선 재개" [Eastar Jet, re launching international route from regional from December] (in Korean). ChosunBiz. 27 September 2023.
  41. ^ "이스타항공, 내달 20일 인천∼대만 타오위안 노선 운항 재개" [Eastar Jet, re-launching Incheon~Taiwan's Taoyuan route from 20th in next month] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 5 October 2023.
  42. ^ a b "'이스타항공, 9월 20일부터 방콕·다낭 노선 취항" ['Eastar Jet', launching Bangkok·Da Nang route ionn 20 September] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 20 July 2023.
  43. ^ "EASTARJET 3Q24 SE ASIA NETWORK ADDITIONS". AeroRoutes. 15 April 2024.
  44. ^ "EastarJet plans Da Nang launch from mid-June 2017". routesonline. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  45. ^ "EastarJet adds Hanoi service from Nov 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  46. ^ Eastar Jet announcement
  47. ^ "EastarJet expands Vietnam network in Feb 2019". routesonline. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  48. ^ "이스타항공, 7월 19일부터 인천∼푸꾸옥 매일 운항" [Eastar Jet, begins Incheon ~ Phu Quoc from 19 July with daily operation] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 4 April 2024.
  49. ^ "Eastar Jet signs code-sharing deal with Chinese LCC". Yonhap News Agency. 24 July 2019.
  50. ^ "EastarJet / T'Way Airlines to Start Seoul – Taipei Codeshare Service from late-April 2013". routesonline. 8 April 2013.
  51. ^ "보유항공기 소개" [Fleet]. eastarjet.com.
  52. ^ "항공기 등록현황" [Aircraft registration status]. atis.koca.go.kr (in Korean). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
  53. ^ "Eastar Jet Fleet Details and History". planespotters.net. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  54. ^ Taylor, Ellis (2018-12-20). "PICTURE: Eastar Jet takes delivery of its first 737 Max [sic] 8". Flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2018-12-20.
  55. ^ "Eastar Jet again takes delivery of B737 MAX 8". ch-aviation.com. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  56. ^ "이스타항공, 보잉 최신 기종 12대 구매계약…항공기 27대로 확대" [Eastar Jet, orders 12 of latest Boeing aircraft…expand fleet to 27]. Yonhap News Agency. 20 October 2024.
  57. ^ "Eastar Jet Fleet Details and History - Historic Fleet". Planespotters.net. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.

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