CJMY
An Air Busan charter landed at Penang International Airport at 11.30pm on 12 November with 192 passengers. Notably, the state called it the first direct charter from Busan to Penang. Its passengers are delegates for the 63rd Orient and South East Asia Lions Forum. Earlier this month, Penang also welcomed a winter charter from Warsaw.
The Airbus A321neo left Gimhae International Airport in Busan at 6pm. State tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai and Penang tourism officials welcomed the guests, Penang Hyperlocal reported. However, the late hour did not stop the welcome.
Importantly, this is a charter, not a new route. Here is why it flew, what Penang plans next and what it means for direct Korea flights.
Why the Air Busan charter flew to Penang
The forum is expected to bring 6,050 delegates, and nearly 70% come from abroad. Many will stay four to five days. In addition, they can visit Penang’s attractions before and after the event.
Specifically, the charter has only two round trips. The first brought the delegates in. Meanwhile, a Penang travel agency arranged the second, so local travellers can fly direct to Busan with a tour group.
Wong said the spending will reach hotels, restaurants, transport and shops. In other words, one event spreads money across many trades. He described the flight as a push into the meetings and conferences market.
Moreover, Wong said the service is a one-off. Therefore, the Busan charter does not mean a regular route has started. It is a test of demand, using real flight data.
Penang’s charter plan beyond the Air Busan charter
Penang has three charters in about two months. Warsaw came on 5 November, Busan on 12 November, and Osaka follows on 30 December. Furthermore, the Osaka flight is a one-off leisure charter, according to Wong.
Wong said none of the three cities had a direct link to Penang before. That is the state’s claim, and the statement gave no list of past routes. Even so, the charters open air access from Europe, South Korea and Japan.
Read more: Penang welcomes first winter charter flight from Poland
Read more: Penang charter flights start 5 November with Poland first
Read more: Hainan Airlines links Haikou to Penang as the airport grows
Penang’s biggest overseas markets are still close to home. Indonesia, China and Singapore are the top three among its top 10 international arrivals, Wong said. As a result, the state wants new source markets.
Wong called the approach gradual and measured. In practice, charters let Penang test the Japan and South Korea markets without a long-term deal. The state will study the data before deciding the next step.
What the Air Busan charter means for direct Korea flights
Wong said the state is open to direct flights between Penang and other South Korean cities. Moreover, it will give administrative help, within its capacity, to any airline that wants to fly the route. No airline has announced one.
However, the charter does not prove demand on its own. It carried delegates and a tour group, not ordinary leisure travellers. Therefore, the data may not show how many people would book a seat.
Meanwhile, Penang airport has been adding links. Hainan Airlines now links Haikou to Penang, and Batik Air flies Batam to Penang. Likewise, the Busan and Osaka charters add two more cities to the map.
In short, the Air Busan charter brought 192 Lions Forum delegates to Penang on 12 November. It was a one-off, and no regular Korea route is planned yet. Osaka is next, on 30 December.
Yalinie Mathan
C. Khor
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