Eastar Jet (ZE, Seoul Gimpo) has announced that Kim Moon-kwon will become the airline's next CEO. The appointment of the former Air Premia (YP, Seoul Incheon) public affairs managing director followed a November 22 Eastar board meeting. The lack of clarity concerning the next Eastar CEO was one factor delaying the re-issuing of the airline's air operator's certificate (AOC).
In addition to working at Air Premia, Kim has served as CEO of passenger charter operator NF-Air (Yechon) and in August 2022, stepped into the CEO's role at Seongjeong Co.,Ltd. Seongjeong acquired Eastar Jet in 2021. "I will focus on overcoming the crisis and normalizing the current situation while serving as CEO of Eastar Jet with Seongjeong," Kim told South Korean media via a statement.
In October, ch-aviation reported that South Korea's civil aviation regulator, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), wanted clarity on the incoming CEO before re-issuing the AOC. In September, the then CEO Kim Yoo-sang, resigned after being summoned to the District Prosecutors’ Office in the city of Jeonju to answer questions over an employment fraud scandal at the airline dating back to the middle of last decade.
Eastar Jet is attempting to leave its scandal-prone past behind it as it targets a relaunch in the South Korean market. Seoul National University educated Kim has a journalism and public affairs background - skills that may be needed for Eastar Jet's eventual relaunch.
