Air Busan


Air Busan Co., Ltd., operating as Air Busan is a low-cost airline based in Busanjin-gu, Busan, South Korea. It is a subsidiary of Asiana Airlines. The airline began its operation in 2007 as Busan International Airlines Company ; it launched service in October 2008. Air Busan is South Korea's third-largest low-cost airline, carrying 4.5 million domestic and 3.6 million international passengers in 2018. Air Busan has grown international passenger traffic by 122% over the past three years, while domestic traffic has grown by 38%.

History

Busan International Airlines Co., Ltd. was established in August 2007. In February the following year, the corporate name was changed to Air Busan Co., Ltd. and an investment agreement was signed by the city of Busan and Asiana Airlines. In April 2008, the company ordered its first aircraft, five Boeing 737s. Two months later, the company was granted a license for regular air transportation. In October 2008, bases were established at Gimpo airport and Jeju international airport and the airline commenced operations between Busan and Gimpo.
In April 2009, the airline took delivery of its fifth Boeing 737-400 aircraft. By August that year, Air Busan had marked 10,000 flights in the 299 days since it began operations. In September 2009, the number of passengers carried reached 1 million. International services, between Busan and Fukuoka, began in March 2010 and in April the number of passengers carried reached 2 million. In January 2011 Air Busan took delivery of its first Airbus A321-200 aircraft.
In 2018, Air Busan applied for a preliminary screening for an initial public offering.
In 2021, Korean Air's Post-Merger Instruction plan for Asiana Airlines was approved by the Korea Development Bank. It includes provisions to merge Air Busan with Korean Air's low cost carrier subsidiary, Jin Air.
Air Busan exclusively uses the expanded international terminal at Gimhae International Airport, which is operational from 26 March 2024.
As a result of merger with Korean Air, the airline, as well as parent company Air Seoul will be integrated with Jin Air, Korean Air's subsidiary.

Destinations

Air Busan started operations in October 2008, using Gimhae International Airport as a base.
, Air Busan flies to the following destinations:
CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
CambodiaSiem ReapSiem Reap International Airport
ChinaChangshaChangsha Huanghua International Airport Charter
ChinaChengduChengdu Shuangliu International Airport
ChinaHaikouHaikou Meilan International Airport
ChinaHohhotHohhot Baita International Airport Charter
ChinaHuangshanHuangshan Tunxi International Airport Charter
ChinaKunmingKunming Changshui International Airport Charter
ChinaNingboNingbo Lishe International Airport
ChinaQingdaoQingdao Jiaodong International Airport
ChinaQingdaoQingdao Liuting International Airport
ChinaSanyaSanya Phoenix International Airport
ChinaShenzhenShenzhen Bao'an International Airport
ChinaShijiazhuangShijiazhuang Zhengding International Airport
ChinaTaiyuanTaiyuan Wusu International Airport Charter
ChinaXi'anXi'an Xianyang International Airport
ChinaYanjiYanji Chaoyangchuan International Airport
ChinaZhangjiajieZhangjiajie Hehua International Airport
ChinaZhengzhouZhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport Charter
GuamHagåtñaAntonio B. Won Pat International Airport
Hong KongHong KongHong Kong International Airport
IndonesiaDenpasarNgurah Rai International Airport
JapanFukuokaFukuoka Airport
JapanKagoshimaKagoshima Airport Charter
JapanKitakyushuKitakyushu Airport
JapanMatsuyamaMatsuyama Airport
JapanNagoyaChubu Centrair International Airport
JapanOsakaKansai International Airport
JapanSapporoNew Chitose Airport
JapanTokyoHaneda Airport Charter
JapanTokyoNarita International Airport
JapanToyamaToyama Airport Charter
LaosVientianeWattay International Airport
MacauMacauMacau International Airport
MalaysiaKota KinabaluKota Kinabalu International Airport
MongoliaUlaanbaatarBuyant-Ukhaa International Airport
MongoliaUlaanbaatarChinggis Khaan International Airport
Northern Mariana IslandsSaipanSaipan International Airport
PhilippinesCebuMactan–Cebu International Airport
PhilippinesClarkClark International Airport
PhilippinesKaliboKalibo International Airport
PhilippinesManilaNinoy Aquino International Airport
PhilippinesTagbilaranBohol–Panglao International Airport
RussiaVladivostokVladivostok International Airport
SingaporeSingaporeChangi Airport Charter
South KoreaBusanGimhae International Airport
South KoreaDaeguDaegu International Airport
South KoreaJejuJeju International Airport
South KoreaSeoulGimpo International Airport
South KoreaSeoulIncheon International Airport
South KoreaUlsanUlsan Airport
TaiwanKaohsiungKaohsiung International Airport
TaiwanTaipeiTaoyuan International Airport
ThailandBangkokSuvarnabhumi Airport
VietnamDa NangDa Nang International Airport
VietnamHanoiNoi Bai International Airport
VietnamHo Chi Minh CityTan Son Nhat International Airport
VietnamNha TrangCam Ranh International Airport

Codeshare agreements

Air Busan has codeshares with the following airlines :

Current fleet

, Air Busan operates an all-Airbus A320 family fleet:

Retired fleet

In the past, Air Busan has previously operated the following aircraft types:
AircraftTotalYear introducedYear retiredNotes
Airbus A320-200320162024
Airbus A321-2001120112024
Airbus A321-200120172025Written-off as flight BX391
Boeing 737-400420092016Former Asiana Airlines fleet.
Boeing 737-500320082016Former Asiana Airlines fleet.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 28 January 2025, Air Busan Flight 391, an Airbus A321-200 registered as HL7763, caught fire before takeoff at Gimhae International Airport, South Korea, bound for Hong Kong, resulting in seven injuries and the evacuation of all 176 people on board, also being the airline's first hull loss.