"Regional Korean Airports Fail to Attract International Carriers"

Saturday, September 14, 2002

Regional Airports Fail to Attract International Carriers  
By Lee Wee-jae
Korea - The Chosun Ilbo


According to National Assembly audit and inspection materials from the
Ministry of Construction and Transportation submitted by the Korea
Airport Corporation Saturday, passenger rates for international flights
at five regional airports in Gimhae, Daegu, Jeongju, Yangyang and Jeju
Island were no more than 0-27.6 percent over the last three years,
except for the 75.3-97.4 percent at Gimhae. 

At Daegu International Airport capable of handling 920,000 travelers a
year, some 60,000 used it in 2001 and just 90,000 did as of August this
year. 

Opened in 1997, Jeongju airport has a passenger terminal capable of
handling some 1.19 million a year, but only 30,000 have passed through
up to August this year. 

Yangyang international airport opened in April at a cost of some W356.7
billion and has yet to see an international flight with the exception of
a charter to Shanghai, halted operations in August. In addition Muan
International Airport under construction with an investment of W316.4
billion opening in 2004 currently has no domestic nor foreign airlines
planning to fly there. 

Of a total of 15 regional airports, including Gimpo airport, Wonju (15.6
percent), Yaecheon (21.1 percent), Gunsan (32 percent), and Cheongju
(43.9 percent), all failed to utilize even half of their facilities
regarding passenger rates, as every airport record red figures of
between W1 to W5 billion won each year. Yangyang Airport whose total
revenue is only W25 million a month, for example, pays electricity costs
of W35 million each month.

The six year-old Cheongju Airport has been in the red since its first
year of operation in 1997 with W5.8 billion followed by 1998 with W5.0
billion, 1999 with W4.6 billion, 2000 with W4.7 billion and 2001 with
W4.6 billion. Jeju Airport has lost up to W8.0 billion each year since
1997 and as of August this year, losses nationwide at airports have
totaled W302.5 billion.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************