Jakarta -In the wake of the Jeju Air accident, South Korea is taking a more serious approach to monitoring the safety of low-cost airlines. The Land of the Morning Calm is reviewing its policies.
One way is to increase oversight of low-cost airlines, including tightening the criteria for MRO workers, namely the staff who perform maintenance, repair, and operation of facilities, equipment, and production lines. South Korea will enforce stricter regulations regarding network expansion.
The measures were announced on January 23, following a meeting of leaders from nine South Korean low-cost airlines, and were implemented nearly a month after the fatal Boeing 737-800 Jeju Air accident that killed 179 passengers and crew.
South Korea’s Minister of Transport, Park Sang-woo, said his ministry plans to focus all its efforts on improving safety standards among low-cost airlines, which he noted account for more than half of the country’s aviation sector.
He also warned that if low-cost airlines only care about profits and do not implement fundamental safety reforms, the future of the country’s aviation sector cannot be guaranteed.
Authorities will increase oversight of aircraft utilization rates, after it was found that the troubled Jeju Air 737 had operated 13 sectors within a 48-hour period. The Ministry of Transport will also increase oversight of maintenance standards and procedures, as well as the approval of new routes.
Airlines may also be subject to stricter regulations regarding the qualifications of their MRO workers.
“Those found not meeting safety standards may face severe penalties including suspension of operations,” said Minister Park Sang-woo as quoted by Flightglobal, Friday (January 24, 2025).
Jeju Air, which also attended the meeting, stated that it plans to reduce the aircraft utilization rate from an average of 14 hours per day to around 12.8 hours per year. Jeju Air also intends to increase the number of MRO personnel from 309 to 350.
It is not mentioned whether other airlines have submitted their plans to improve safety.
The announcement is the latest step by Seoul to alleviate concerns about the country’s aviation sector, which is undergoing a period of change following a rapid recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
On January 13, Korean authorities ordered a thorough safety review of flight operations and airport facilities, and announced a series of safety enhancements, including repeated training for multiple engine shutdowns and bird strike response procedures.
