Jin Air to start flights to Shanghai

SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean budget carrier Jin Air Co. said Tuesday that it will offer a new flight service between the southern resort city of Jeju and Shanghai as part of its overseas expansion.
Jin Air said it plans to offer a weekly flight between the two cities from June 28 to July 12 before providing a daily flight starting on July 15.
The airline said it will become the first South Korean low-cost carrier to offer flights to mainland China, excluding Hong Kong and Macao.
"The new flight will help attract Chinese tourists as well as contribute to boosting Jeju's economy," the company said.
The planned flight launch comes amid a rise in the number of Chinese visitors to Jeju. Some 400,000 Chinese tourists visited the scenic island in 2010, accounting for more than half of the island's overall foreign visitors.
Jin Air, wholly owned by South Korea's leading flag carrier Korean Air Lines Co., began offering domestic flight services in July 2008.
Jin Air currently offers overseas flight services on routes between Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway, and Guam, the Philippines and Macau.
brk@yna.co.kr