Air Busan is accelerating its international route expansion with the launch of a new service to Shizuoka, Japan. The low-cost carrier held an inauguration ceremony at Gimhae International Airport's international terminal on May 30 and began full operations on the Busan-Shizuoka route, the company said.
The route operates three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flights depart Gimhae Airport at 9:05 a.m. and arrive at Shizuoka Airport at 10:50 a.m. local time. Return flights leave at 11:50 a.m. and arrive at Gimhae Airport at 2:00 p.m. Air Busan is the sole operator on the route.
Shizuoka is a tourist destination in central Honshu, Japan, located near Mt. Fuji and known for its natural scenery and appeal as a leisure getaway. The inaugural flight recorded a load factor in the upper 90% range, confirming strong demand for the direct service.
Following this launch, Air Busan plans to add a Busan-Takamatsu route starting May 31. For the summer season, the carrier's strategy is to strengthen its route competitiveness by operating both scheduled and charter flights on nine Japan routes based out of Gimhae Airport.
"We will continue to discover competitive routes based on travel trends and demand, and expand our regional route network," an Air Busan official said.