Jin Air (LJ, Jeju) will begin flights to Hawaii in December of this year marking the budget carrier's maiden venture into the longhaul budget market. Initial flights will include Seoul Incheon to Honolulu, the Korea Times reports.
"We have studied the market to decide our first long-range destination," a Jin Air official said. "And we picked Hawaii. Although other full-service carriers now operate between Korea and Hawaii, we think Jin Air's operation will increase the total demand."
The LCC took delivery of its first widebody jet - a 355-seater B777-200(ER) HL7743 (msn 32408) - on lease from parent Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) in December of last year. The jet is currently deployed on flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.
Rival t'way Air (TW, Daegu) has already secured US Department of Transportation (DOT) route authority for flights to the United States with plans to serve Guam International from July of this year.
