Ahead of the launch of the integrated Jin Air, competition to dominate Busan Sky Road is fierce.

Ahead of the launch of the integrated Jin Air in March next year, domestic low-cost carriers (LCCs) are launching new routes and increasing flights one after another, and the competition to dominate the skyway at Busan Gimhae International Airport is intensifying.

According to Yonhap News coverage on the 11th, Gimhae Airport, where the number of international passengers has recently exceeded 10 million, is showing a noticeable increase in passengers, especially among national LCCs.

According to Korea Airports Corporation's airport statistics, the number of international passengers at Gimhae Airport from January to October this year was 10,335,000, an increase of 22.1% compared to the same period last year.

Among them, the number of national LCC users was 7,314,003, a 32.2% increase from the same period last year (5,530,618).

Compared to the 10.4% decrease in the number of passengers using Korean Air, the only large airline (FSC), and a 7.7% increase in the number of foreign airline users during the same period, the growth of national LCCs is steep.

By airline, Air Busan transported the most passengers with 2.609 million passengers, followed by Jin Air with 1.515 million passengers, Jeju Air with 1.447 million passengers, Eastar Jet with 1.056 million passengers, and Trinity Airlines with 684,000 passengers.

In particular, the number of passengers on Eastar Jet and Trinity Airlines increased by 192% and 353%, respectively, compared to the same period last year, showing significant growth.

It is understood that the saturation situation at Incheon Airport also played a role in why airlines are focusing their attention on Gimhae Airport.

As it becomes difficult to secure new flights at Incheon International Airport, airlines are turning to Gimhae Airport, where it is relatively easy to open routes and demand for international flights is steadily increasing.

However, at Gimhae Airport, competition to secure new flights is fierce as the slots for aircraft takeoff and landing times are approaching saturation.

An aviation industry official said, "Currently, most of the available slots for Gimhae Airport have been allocated," and added, "Competition among airlines over securing routes and operating times is intensifying."

In this situation, LCC airlines are expanding their route networks departing from Busan by launching new routes and increasing flights.

Based on the routes operated by more than 20 flights from January to September this year, Air Busan increased from 22 last year to 29, and Jin Air increased from 13 to 18.

Jeju Air increased from 14 to 16, Eastar Jet increased from 1 to 10, and Trinity Airlines increased from 3 to 11.

Airlines are scheduled to launch new routes and increase flights at the end of the year.

Jeju Air launched a new route between Busan and Guilin last September, and plans to open a route to Manila next month and increase routes to Shanghai and Zhangjiajie. Irregular flights will be operated on the Vientiane route from the 30th of next month to the end of February next year.

Eastar Jet and Eastar Jet are also promoting irregular flights on the Hangzhou route and Haneda route, respectively.

Competition among LCC airlines surrounding Gimhae Airport is expected to intensify with the launch of integrated Jin Air in March next year.

Korean Air is pursuing a plan to integrate Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul and develop Busan as a second hub.

According to the 'Integrated LCC Busan 2nd Hub Construction Plan' prepared by Korean Air, the number of international routes at Gimhae Airport is planned to be expanded from the existing 28 to 33.

It includes opening four new routes to Japan and one route to Southeast Asia, and increasing the number of weekly flights by 58 from 281 to 339.

Some are cautiously discussing the possibility that the number of flights on routes operated by Jin Air and Air Busan overlapping may be adjusted during the integration process.

There is speculation that by consolidating the routes operated by the two airlines, operations on some overlapping routes may be reduced and aircraft may be deployed on other new routes.

Accordingly, some interpret that competing LCCs are showing moves to secure routes from Busan in advance in preparation for the possibility of future route reorganization.

An aviation industry official said, "As the possibility of reorganizing routes at Gimhae Airport is being discussed ahead of the launch of the integrated Jin Air, the competition among airlines to dominate the market is intensifying. As slots are already saturated, it is expected that there will continue to be moves to secure operational opportunities that may arise during the route adjustment process in the future."