Free Meals and Luggage Check-In: Air Busan Shatters Low-Cost Airline Stereotypes

▲ Air Busan is a regional airline with sleek aircraft and in-flight services that defy the typical “low-cost” image. (Photo / Air Busan Facebook fan page)

Reporter Chen Tzu-yin / Special Report

“When flying, not only do you get service from beautiful and friendly Korean flight attendants, but there are also complimentary in-flight meals and drinks—the whole experience is no different from flying with major airlines like China Airlines or EVA Air.” This is how a first-time Air Busan passenger described the overall service. That’s right—Air Busan may not always be mentioned in discussions about “low-cost carriers,” and some travelers might not even consider it a budget airline, because its services, scale, and background are closer to the traditional airline business model.

Air Busan is a subsidiary established in 2007 by Asiana Airlines, one of South Korea’s two major domestic carriers, and operates regional international routes. Its aircraft have a fresh and elegant design, aligning with Air Busan’s philosophy: “Start your relaxed and enjoyable journey with Air Busan.”Lee Kyung-min, General Manager of Air Busan Taiwan Branchsaid: “Actually, Air Busan isn’t a low-cost airline. In Taiwan, it might be defined that way, but in reality, we focus more on being an airline that meets passengers’ needs with reasonable prices.”

The reason passengers have experiences like the one described above when flying with Air Busan is largely due to the airline’s “business philosophy,” according to Lee Kyung-min: “We tailor our services based on the characteristics of each route. For example, business routes offer free newspapers and coffee, tour routes include in-flight raffles, and for the Taipei-Busan route—which flies during lunchtime—we provide complimentary meals. We also offer 20 kilograms of free checked baggage, which differs from the usual practices of low-cost carriers, yet we still maintain competitive pricing and emphasize online sales.”

In reality, there aren’t many areas where airlines can cut costs—fees for airport slots and fuel prices are hard to reduce—so savings often have to come from services. But Air Busan manages to offer better services within the framework of affordable fares, which has changed many passengers’ perceptions of “low-cost carrier” services.

Regarding safety concerns that some people have about budget airlines, Lee Kyung-min stated that the airline industry is fundamentally about transportation, and safety must always come first. Costs can be reduced and prices can be made more affordable, but safety can never be compromised. Air Busan, which has been recognized by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as one of the best airlines, earns her full confidence: “We always prioritize safety in our work, and in the two and a half years since we started operating in Taiwan, we’ve never canceled a flight for reasons other than typhoons.”

When it comes to using Air Busan, Lee Kyung-min recommends the “Korea-Japan Combo”—Taiwanese travelers can fly to Busan for a one- or two-day trip before transferring to Fukuoka, Japan, which takes just 50 minutes. The total cost can even be cheaper than visiting Fukuoka alone. Alternatively, travelers who want to explore only Korea can transfer to Seoul or Jeju Island. Flights to Seoul operate every hour daily, while flights to Jeju Island run 11 times a day.