South Korea has ordered low-cost carriers to prioritize safety over profits in a bid to boost confidence in the country's aviation industry following the Jeju Air jet crash in South Korea last month.
In a meeting with South Korea's nine low-cost airlines on Thursday, the country's Transport Ministry called for measures such as reducing flight times, improving pilot training and hiring more maintenance personnel. The ministry stopped issuing formal targets, instead leaving airlines to develop their own proposals.
According to the ministry, Jeju Air announced that it will reduce the average daily flight time of its aircraft from 14 flights per day to 12.8 hours. The company also said it plans to add 41 maintenance personnel, bringing the total number to 350.
A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed into a concrete wall at Muan International Airport, killing 179 people, making it the deadliest aviation accident on mainland South Korea. This was the world's worst death toll since Lion Air Flight 610 in 2018, when all 189 people on board died. According to local media, travel agencies have announced an increase in the number of people canceling trips in the weeks since.
There is no evidence that poor maintenance or pilot error contributed to the crash, but investigators will examine all aspects of the flight. This includes the plane's repair history and whether the bird strike caused engine or electrical system failure.
The ministry said in a statement that airlines that ignore safety will be shunned by travelers and will disappear. The airline announced that it would suspend flight certificates for airlines that do not comply with safety standards.
Low-cost airlines have grown rapidly over the past two decades, despite setbacks when the pandemic disrupted travel. However, they are facing cost pressure due to competition to lower ticket prices.
Aviation experts say some of the safety measures proposed by the government may have a limited impact on safety, but could reduce the workload of pilots and other workers, reducing fatigue and reducing human error. He said that it may have the effect of reducing the risk of being connected.
Kwon Bo Hung, a professor of aviation safety management at Far Eastern University, said of Jeju Air's decision to shorten its flight time, “Other than basic safety inspections, there's not much that can be done in one hour.''
Officials said the plane that crashed was about 15 years old and had no history of accidents. Older planes are considered safer, but often require more maintenance.
Government requirements could also raise costs for airlines competing to offer cheap travel. Increasing the size of maintenance crews, for example, could increase operating costs for airlines offering no-frills service and drive up ticket prices, experts say.
On Wednesday, the government announced plans to overhaul runway infrastructure. The plan included using more flexible steel instead of concrete to expand the safety zone and build localizers, antenna arrays that help pilots land.
One of the special objects of investigation regarding the crash is the concrete wall at Muan Airport where the antenna array was installed. Flight 7C2216 crashed into a concrete wall at high speed and exploded, killing all but two passengers and crew.
A safety inspection by the Ministry of Transport a few weeks ago found seven South Korean airports and several domestic airlines in violation of existing safety standards. Violations include failing to conduct a safety inspection within the required time after takeoff and improperly replacing a filter in the plane's hydraulic system after it overheated.
