Jeju Air vs AirAsia

Overview

Jeju Air (7C) is, according to Wikipedia, the first and largest South Korean low-cost airline. It was established on 25 January 2005 as a joint venture between Aekyung Group and the government of Jeju Province, and its first commercial flight, on the Jeju–Gimpo route, took place on 5 June 2006. Aekyung Group is its largest shareholder, and it was the first Korean low-cost carrier listed on the Korea Exchange. It is headquartered in Jeju City and was a founding member of the Value Alliance, an alliance of low-cost carriers.

Network and hubs

Operating bases are Jeju, Seoul–Gimpo, Seoul–Incheon and Busan, with the largest base at Jeju International Airport. Wikipedia lists 41 destinations. Jeju–Gimpo, the airline's first route, remains a core domestic service.

Fleet

Wikipedia lists a fleet of 45 aircraft (infobox, retrieved 28 September 2026), built around the Boeing 737 family. Check the airline's fleet page for the current breakdown, as numbers change with deliveries and retirements.

On board

Jeju Air operates a low-cost model. Seat pitch, entertainment and meal details were not confirmed in the sources used, so travellers should check before booking, and should assume food and extras are chargeable unless the fare says otherwise.

Good to know

• Checked baggage (international): according to the airline's baggage page, the FLY fare includes no free checked bag, FLYBAG includes 15 kg and BIZ LITE 30 kg. Items may weigh up to 32 kg; excess baggage is charged. Domestic and Guam/Saipan rules differ.
• Doorside service: optional quick baggage pickup costs KRW 3,000 per item domestically and KRW 5,000 internationally.
• Loyalty: the frequent-flyer programme is called Refresh Point.
• Safety: on 29 December 2024, Jeju Air Flight 2216, a Boeing 737-800 arriving from Bangkok, crashed at Muan International Airport. Wikipedia reports 179 of the 181 people on board died, and the cause was still under investigation when last retrieved.
• Lounges and fees: no lounge access or change-fee information was confirmed; check the airline's website.

Overview

AirAsia is a Malaysian low-cost carrier. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 20 December 1993 and began operations on 18 November 1996. Its IATA code is AK, its ICAO code is AXM and its call sign is RED CAP. The airline is headquartered at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Its parent company is listed as Tune Group, and the airline business has continued to use the AirAsia brand since the group renamed itself Capital A in January 2022. AirAsia is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances. Its loyalty programme is AirAsia Rewards.

Network and hubs

The main hub is KLIA Terminal 2, the low-cost carrier terminal. Other operating bases are Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Penang. Wikipedia states that the airline serves more than 166 destinations in 25 countries, a figure that includes its affiliates. The group also includes units in Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines. Wikipedia also notes that AirAsia X has been merged into the AirAsia Group.

Fleet

As of May 2026, Wikipedia's fleet table lists these passenger aircraft in service:

• 69 Airbus A320-200
• 29 Airbus A320neo
• 8 Airbus A321neo
• 1 Airbus A321LR

That makes 107 passenger aircraft. Three A321 freighters operate for its Teleport cargo business. FlightGlobal reported that the first A321LR was delivered on 30 April 2026, with at least 62 on order. The same report says AirAsia plans to return 14 aircraft to lessors during 2026 and to reduce its total fleet. Wikipedia also lists a large order book of A321neo, A321XLR and A220-300 aircraft.

On board

The sources reviewed did not give current details of cabin classes, seat pitch, meals or entertainment, so these are not listed here. Wikipedia notes that AirAsia was the first Malaysian airline to offer onboard Wi-Fi, in 2014, but this does not confirm that Wi-Fi is available today. Travellers should check the airline's website for the aircraft and route they plan to fly.

Good to know

• As a low-cost carrier, AirAsia generally sells extras separately. Check the current baggage and fees pages on the airline's website before booking, because allowances were not confirmed in the sources used.
• Flights from KLIA use Terminal 2, which is separate from the main terminal.
• Loyalty programme: AirAsia Rewards.
• No on-time performance figure was found in the sources used, so none is given here.