Jeju Air Launches Taipei–Seoul Route with Song Joong-ki Livery Plane Coming to Taiwan

▲ At the launch press conference, many people rushed to take photos with the Song Joong-ki billboard. (Photo / Chen Jui-chung, same below)

Reporter Chen Jui-chung / Taoyuan Report

The low-cost carrier Jeju Air, which has Song Joong-ki as its brand ambassador, officially launched its Taipei–Seoul route today (May 1), operating seven flights per week. This marks its second destination in Taiwan after the existing Taipei–Busan route.Jeju Air also revealed that Taiwanese passengers will have the chance to fly on the “Song Joong-ki livery plane”.

Jeju Air’s Taipei–Seoul flights use the Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which can carry 186 passengers. In Taiwan, the airline operates from Terminal 1 of Taoyuan Airport, with China Airlines handling ground services. The inaugural flight from Seoul to Taipei today had a 100% load factor, while the first departure from Taipei carried 143 passengers, achieving an approximately 77% occupancy rate. At today’s launch press conference, Jeju Air specially set up a large billboard featuring Song Joong-ki dressed in a flight attendant uniform, attracting many fans who eagerly lined up for photos.

▲ (From left, second onwards) Zheng Yishou, Director of the Korea Tourism Organization Taipei Office, and Lee Suk-joo, Vice President of Sales at Jeju Air, among others, jointly cut the ribbon for the inauguration of Jeju Air’s Taipei–Seoul route.

Jeju Air has previously chosen popular male stars such as Lee Min-ho and Kim Soo-hyun as brand ambassadors. Starting in May this year, the airline has switched to Song Joong-ki, who rose to fame through the drama “Descendants of the Sun.” Jeju Air stated that starting from the end of May, it will introduce a series of Song Joong-ki-themed merchandise on board, along with the unveiling of the Song Joong-ki livery plane. The livery aircraft is expected to operate on the Taiwan route one to two times per month, giving Taiwanese fans the opportunity to fly on their idol’s special plane. Jeju Air also offers promotional fares to Seoul every day, starting from NT$1,200 for a one-way ticket, including a free checked baggage allowance of 15 kilograms (tax not included).

Vice President of Sales at Jeju AirLee Suk-joostated that with the launch of the Taipei–Seoul route, Jeju Air has become the only low-cost carrier flying to both Seoul and Busan. Zheng Yishou, Director of the Korea Tourism Organization Taipei Office,also noted that the target for 2016 is to achieve 1.6 million exchanges between Taiwan and South Korea, and that the launch of Jeju Air’s new route will help boost passenger traffic between the two regions.also stated that the target for the number of exchanges between Taiwan and South Korea in 2016 was 1.6 million people; the launch of Jeju Air's routes will help increase passenger exchanges between the two regions.