Jin Air to merge with Air Busan and Air Seoul

Jin Air, Air Busan, and Air Seoul have agreed to a three-way merger as part of the ongoing fallout from the Korean Air and Asiana Airlines consolidation. Under the agreement, Jin Air will absorb the assets, liabilities, rights, obligations, and employment of Air Busan and Air Seoul. The integrated carrier is scheduled to launch on March 17, 2027, following approval from shareholders and relevant aviation authorities.

The merger aims to strengthen route portfolios, fleet diversity, and service quality while increasing competitiveness at key hubs. However, the integration has raised concerns regarding Gimhae International Airport. Because Jin Air and Air Busan currently overlap on 11 international routes from Gimhae—including destinations such as Taipei, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Guam—there are fears that some services could be reduced as the new entity reorganizes schedules.

There is also ongoing debate regarding whether the merged carrier will prioritize Incheon Airport as a hub for Busan-bound passengers rather than expanding direct international services from Gimhae. Despite these concerns, there is potential for Gimhae to gain new long-haul connections to North America and Europe as foreign carriers show increasing interest in the growing inbound demand to Busan.