air taxi service

Korean air taxi service will take to the skies

Korea will see its first air charter company begin operation next month.Hanseo Aerospace announced that it will launch an “air taxi” service starting in April. The company will rent an entire 18-seat Beechcraft 1900D upon reservation, either through their Web site (www.hsaero.com) or by phone, in which customers choose the time and destination of their flight.The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs gave Hanseo an air operator certificate on Monday, which allows them to begin operations after a variety of safety inspections. Although Korean Air, the nation’s biggest carrier, has been providing air charter services to the public since 2002 with their 14-seat Gulf Stream-IV and six-seat helicopter Sikorsky S-76C+, this will be the first time in Korea that a company has devoted itself to air charter services.Even though a few conglomerates, including the Samsung Group, have their own private jets, neither owning a private airplane nor using air charter services is widespread in Korea. “Although we provide air charter services, it is not a major business category for Korean Air as the country’s recognition of alternative aviation is rather low,” said a spokesman for Korean Air. Hanseo has similar worries. “Korea is lagging in advanced flight alternatives such as low-cost airlines and air charters, but by offering a relatively inexpensive, accessible air charter service, we hope to invigorate this industry,” said Choi adding that this will provide companies that do not own private jets another option. Hanseo’s services are less expensive than Korean Air’s. While Korean Air charges 4 million won to 4.3 million won ($4,200 to $4,545) per flight hour in its Gulf Stream-IV and around 2.8 million won to 3 million per hour on their helicopter, Hanseo’s Beechcraft costs 2 million won per hour to rent. By Cho Jae-eun Staff Reporter [jainnie@joongang.co.kr]