Jin Air flight LJ065 with full capacity from Busan landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.50pm near mid-night. The aircraft were greeted with water arch courtesy of Malaysia Airport Berhad’s through its Airport Fire and Rescue Service to celebrate the inaugural flight.
All 180 passengers including captains and cabin crews received a traditional welcome at the arrival gate to commemorate the occasions.
Jin Air is now flying from Busan to Kota Kinabalu daily. Busan is the 2nd largest city in South Korea with the largest seaport in the country.
Mr. Park Byung-Ryool, CEO of Jin Air Co., Ltd said “It is a great honour to serve more passengers to Kota Kinabalu from Korea. On behalf of Jin Air, I would like to highly applaud every one of you who helped us in realizing the launch of this new route from Busan, especially the authorities and Sabah Tourism Board. We will do our upmost best for the passengers’ convenience with safety at the top of our agenda.”
In April 2022, Sabah Tourism Board led by YB Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Puan Noredah Othman went to Seoul to meet with Korean airlines operators and top agents to re-established rapport in the wake of the global re-opening of border for travel.
Puan Noredah Othman, Sabah Tourism Board’s Chief Executive Director said, “We are happy to see that we are once again connected with Busan, and now through Jin Air. In the preliminary report I received, it is very encouraging to hear that the average load factor of all the Korean flights that has flown to Kota Kinabalu from Seoul is more than 70%. I believe this suggests that the route is showing a good start for the participating airlines.”
Pre-pandemic, Kota Kinabalu was connected with 3 cities in South Korea namely Seoul, Busan and Muan. Previously the Busan-Kota Kinabalu route was serviced by Air Busan and Eastar Jet.
Present at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to welcome the passengers are Puan Noredah Othman (CEO of Sabah Tourism Board), Mr. Park Jeong Hoon (Jin Air Kota Kinabalu Branch Manager), officials from Tourism Malaysia and the Malaysia Airport Berhad’s officials.