Jeju Air and Eastar Jet are both South Korean low-cost carriers with bases in the Seoul area, Busan and Jeju. Travellers compare them mainly on the Gimpo–Jeju domestic route and on short regional flights from Korea to Japan and Southeast Asia.
Quick verdict
Both are no-frills, single-class low-cost operators built around the Boeing 737, so the choice comes down to network, bag rules and fare at the time of booking. Jeju Air is the larger carrier, with more destinations and a clear bag-by-fare structure, so it suits travellers who want a wide choice of routes and know what their bag will cost. Eastar Jet is smaller and has a more focused network, which suits travellers whose route it flies. On either airline, check the fare conditions for bags and extras before paying.
Choose Jeju Air if…
- You want the larger network: about 41 destinations and a Jeju base that is the airline's biggest.
- You want clear checked-bag tiers: none on FLY, 15 kg on FLYBAG, 30 kg on BIZ LITE.
- You want a frequent-flyer scheme (Refresh Point) and a BIZ LITE fare option.
Choose Eastar Jet if…
- Your route is one it flies, such as Seoul to Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Da Nang or Tokyo Narita.
- You want a mixed fleet of 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s, with Boeing 787s planned from 2027.
- You want an additional Korean low-cost option from Gimpo, Incheon, Gimhae or Cheongju, including a Xiamen service listed to start on 28 October 2026.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Both airlines fly Gimpo–Jeju and operate from Seoul Incheon, Seoul Gimpo, Busan and Jeju. Jeju Air is larger, with about 41 destinations and Jeju as its biggest base. Eastar Jet adds Cheongju as a base. Its international list includes Tokyo Narita, Taipei, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hong Kong, Almaty and several Chinese cities, with Xiamen listed to start on 28 October 2026. Check the current schedule for your exact route.
Fleet
Jeju Air has about 45 aircraft built around the Boeing 737 family (September 2026). Eastar Jet flies an all-Boeing 737 fleet and had 20 aircraft as of December 2025: 10 Boeing 737-800s and 10 737 MAX 8s, with more MAX 8s on order. It plans to add Boeing 787s from 2027. Eastar restarted flying in 2023 with three aircraft, so it is much smaller.
Cabins and seats
Neither airline sells a traditional business class. Eastar Jet is single-class economy, with 189 seats on its 737-800s. Jeju Air uses a single-class low-cost layout, but sells fare types FLY, FLYBAG and BIZ LITE, which differ mainly in baggage allowance. Expect to pay extra for meals and other extras on both unless your fare says otherwise.
Baggage and fares
On international Jeju Air flights, the baggage page shows FLY with no free checked bag, FLYBAG with 15 kg and BIZ LITE with 30 kg, with a 32 kg limit per item. Eastar Jet checked allowances vary by fare and route; check its conditions of carriage. Its cabin allowance is listed by Airpaz as one 10 kg bag.
Alliances, loyalty and ownership
Neither belongs to a global alliance. Jeju Air is a founding member of the low-cost Value Alliance and runs the Refresh Point frequent-flyer programme. Eastar Jet joined the U-FLY Alliance in 2016. Its ownership changed after a planned Jeju Air takeover was abandoned in July 2020: Sung Jung became owner, then sold to VIG Partners in January 2023.
Safety
On 29 December 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 arriving from Bangkok, Flight 2216, crashed at Muan International Airport, killing 179 of the 181 people on board. The cause was still under investigation when last checked. Travellers who want more detail can look at the Jeju Air page and official investigation updates.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jeju Air better than Eastar Jet?
Neither is clearly better. Jeju Air has a larger network and set bag tiers, while Eastar Jet is smaller and focused on certain routes. Compare fares and baggage on your own route.
Does Jeju Air include checked baggage?
On international flights, the FLY fare includes no free checked bag. FLYBAG includes 15 kg and BIZ LITE 30 kg. Domestic rules differ.
Does Eastar Jet include checked baggage?
It depends on the fare and route. Check the conditions of carriage when booking. Its cabin allowance is listed as one 10 kg bag.
About Jeju Air Read more
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.
About Eastar Jet Read more
Overview
Eastar Jet is a South Korean low-cost carrier headquartered in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. According to Wikipedia, it was established in October 2007 and flew its first commercial service, Seoul to Jeju, on 7 January 2009. It joined the U-FLY Alliance in 2016, but it is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
The airline went through a difficult period in 2020 and 2021. A planned takeover by Jeju Air was abandoned in July 2020, and Sung Jung later became the owner. Sung Jung sold its stake to the private equity firm VIG Partners in January 2023. Eastar Jet resumed operations in 2023 with three aircraft.
Network and hubs
Eastar Jet lists operating bases at Seoul Incheon, Seoul Gimpo, Busan Gimhae, Cheongju and Jeju. It flies domestic routes, including Gimpo to Jeju, and regional international routes. Destinations listed as active on Wikipedia include Tokyo Narita, Taipei, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hong Kong, Almaty and several mainland Chinese cities. A Xiamen service is listed as starting on 28 October 2026. Many earlier routes have been marked as terminated, so check the official website for current schedules.
Fleet
As of December 2025, Wikipedia lists an all-Boeing 737 fleet of 20 aircraft in service: 10 Boeing 737-800s and 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, with 2 more MAX 8s on order. The airline has said it plans to add Boeing 787 Dreamliners from 2027. The fleet infobox on the same page gives a different figure (17), so treat the size as approximate.
On board
Eastar Jet operates a single-class economy layout, with 189 seats listed on the 737-800. Seat pitch, meal service, Wi-Fi and entertainment details were not found in the sources checked. As a low-cost carrier, extras are generally charged separately, so confirm what a fare includes when booking.
Good to know
- Baggage: allowances depend on fare and route. A third-party source, Airpaz, gives a cabin allowance of 10 kg with maximum dimensions of 55 x 40 x 20 cm, plus a small personal item. Check the airline's conditions of carriage for current rules.
- Fees and changes: change fees depend on the fare conditions.
- Lounges and upgrades: no lounge or upgrade information was found.
- On-time performance: no published figure was found.
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