Low-cost Carriers See Sales of In-flight Meals Sharply Increase | Be Korea-savvy

Low-cost Carriers See Sales of In-flight Meals Sharply Increase


This undated file photo, provided by Korean Air, shows chefs preparing in-flight meals at the Korean Air Catering Center in Incheon, just west of Seoul.

This undated file photo, provided by Korean Air, shows chefs preparing in-flight meals at the Korean Air Catering Center in Incheon, just west of Seoul.

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Korea Bizwire)South Korean low-cost carriers are enjoying a sharp increase in sales of in-flight meals on the back of increasing demand for overseas travel.

Jeju Air Co., for instance, sold a total of 4,600 in-flight meals through advance orders last month, up 156 percent from June and 411 percent from May.

T’way Air saw monthly sales of in-flight meals rise from 440 in May to 2,320 in June and 8,289 in July.

Air Seoul Inc. said sales of its in-flight meals marked a 12-fold increase in July compared to the figure recorded in May, although it didn’t disclose detailed figures.

The primary factor behind the hike in low-cost carriers’ sales of in-flight meals is the increase in the number of passengers enjoying long-distance travel.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, overseas passenger traffic reached 1.84 million last month, a five-fold jump from a year ago and up 44 percent from a month before.

The increase in sales of in-flight meals could lead to an improvement in carriers’ profitability. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, pay-based services like in-flight meals accounted for 5 to 7 percent of their overall revenue.

J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)

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