Jeju Air and Jin Air are two of South Korea's largest low-cost carriers, both flying from Seoul to Jeju, Japan and Southeast Asia, including Bangkok. Jeju Air is independent and the larger by fleet; Jin Air is a Korean Air subsidiary and is due to merge with Air Busan and Air Seoul under the Jin Air brand in March 2027.
Quick verdict
Both are no-frills carriers on short and medium routes, so the choice usually comes down to baggage, schedule and price on your date. Jin Air suits travellers who want the occasional business-style seat and Korean Air group backing. Jeju Air suits those who want a clear fare ladder (FLY, FLYBAG, BIZ LITE) and who will pay only for the extras they need. Jeju Air's fatal 2024 crash is still under investigation, and some travellers will weigh that.
Choose Jeju Air if…
- You are travelling light and want the cheapest base fare, adding a bag only if needed (the FLY fare includes no checked bag).
- You want bases at Jeju, Gimpo, Incheon and Busan and Japanese routes such as Incheon–Kagoshima and Incheon–Hakodate.
- You want a 30 kg allowance on the BIZ LITE fare for a longer trip.
Choose Jin Air if…
- You want the chance of a business-style or premium seat on selected 737-900, A321 or 777 aircraft.
- You value Korean Air group backing.
- You are happy to follow the merger with Air Busan and Air Seoul, due to complete in March 2027.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Jeju Air operates from Jeju, Seoul–Gimpo, Seoul–Incheon and Busan, with Jeju its largest base, and lists 41 destinations. It is still adding Japanese routes: Incheon–Kagoshima resumes on 25 October 2026 and Incheon–Hakodate on 1 December 2026, both daily.
Jin Air is centred on Gimpo and Incheon, with Busan and Jeju as focus cities. It serves Japan, Southeast Asia (including Bangkok), Taiwan, Guam and Mongolia. Its Hong Kong and Macau services are suspended and Honolulu is terminated.
Fleet and cabins
Jeju Air runs a Boeing 737-based fleet of 45 aircraft in a single-class layout. Fare types (FLY, FLYBAG, BIZ LITE) change what you get, not where you sit.
Jin Air has 31 aircraft, mostly 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s in all-economy. Some 737-900s have 8 business-style seats and the A321-200 has 12. Its three 777-200ERs seat 393, with 48 premium seats. Orders include 10 A321neos.
Baggage and fares
Jeju Air's international FLY fare has no free checked bag. FLYBAG includes 15 kg and BIZ LITE 30 kg, with items up to 32 kg. Excess is charged, and domestic and Guam/Saipan rules differ.
Jin Air's baggage allowance varies by fare and route, so confirm the rules for your fare on Jin Air's website before booking.
Safety and reliability
On 29 December 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 arriving from Bangkok (Flight 2216) crashed at Muan, killing 179 of the 181 on board. The cause was still under investigation at last report.
Jin Air has no recorded fatal accidents. In February 2021 it kept its PW4000-powered 777s flying for four days after other carriers grounded theirs, and it returned its first 777 to service in June 2022. A July 2026 flight, LJ360, was delayed twice by technical faults.
Ownership, loyalty and the 2027 merger
Jeju Air is independent, led by Aekyung Group, and a founding member of the Value Alliance of low-cost carriers. Its frequent-flyer programme is Refresh Point.
Jin Air belongs to no global alliance. It agreed in August 2026 to merge with Air Busan and Air Seoul, and the combined carrier will fly as Jin Air from 17 March 2027. Expect changes to schedules, loyalty and booking systems; treat far-ahead bookings with some care.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jeju Air better than Jin Air?
Neither is clearly better. Jeju Air has the larger fleet, while Jin Air has some business-style seats and Korean Air backing. Compare the total fare with baggage for your route and date.
Does Jeju Air include checked baggage?
Not on international FLY fares. FLYBAG includes 15 kg and BIZ LITE 30 kg, and excess baggage is charged. Check Jin Air's fare rules when booking, as allowances vary by fare and route.
Are Jeju Air and Jin Air merging?
No. Jin Air is merging with Air Busan and Air Seoul, with the combined airline due to fly as Jin Air from 17 March 2027. Jeju Air is not part of that deal.
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 Jin Air Read more
Overview
Jin Air is a South Korean low-cost airline. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in January 2008 and began flying in July 2008 with a Gimpo–Jeju service. It is headquartered in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, is a subsidiary of Korean Air and has been listed on the Korea Exchange since December 2017. It does not belong to a global alliance.
In August 2026 Jin Air signed an agreement with Air Busan and Air Seoul to merge into one low-cost carrier on 17 March 2027, as reported by Yonhap. The combined airline will use the Jin Air brand. Until then, the three airlines operate separately.
Network and hubs
Jin Air's hubs are Seoul Gimpo and Seoul Incheon, and it also has focus cities at Busan and Jeju. Domestic routes link Gimpo and Jeju with regional airports such as Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Yeosu and Ulsan. International routes serve Japan (including Tokyo Narita, Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo), Southeast Asia (including Bangkok, Da Nang, Hanoi, Cebu and Phu Quoc), Taiwan, Guam, Mongolia and several cities in China. Its Hong Kong and Macau services are listed as suspended and its Honolulu route as terminated. A domestic codeshare with Air Busan began in January 2026.
Fleet
As of August 2026, Wikipedia lists 31 aircraft in service. They comprise 19 Boeing 737-800s, 3 Boeing 737-900s, 5 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, 3 Boeing 777-200ERs and 1 Airbus A321-200. Orders include 10 A321neos and 3 more 737-900s. ch-aviation reports that the A321-200 is Jin Air's first Airbus jet and was transferred from Asiana Airlines, and it lists 33 aircraft for the carrier.
On board
- Most aircraft are single-class economy; the 737-800s have 183 or 189 seats and the 737 MAX 8 has 189.
- The 737-900 has 8 business-style seats and 180 economy seats. The A321-200 has 12 business-style seats and 162 economy seats.
- The 777-200ER seats 393: 48 premium seats and 345 economy seats.
- Seat pitch, meal service, entertainment and Wi-Fi details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed. Check the airline's website before booking.
Good to know
- Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access vary by fare and route. They were not confirmed in the sources reviewed, so check the official website.
- Jin Air is a low-cost carrier, so extras are likely to be charged separately; confirm this on the airline's fare pages.
- The planned merger with Air Busan and Air Seoul in March 2027 may change schedules, branding and booking systems.
- No published on-time performance figure was found for this profile.
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