South Korean Airlines Delays Hit 25% Amid Safety Concerns
Official government data released on February 10, 2025, reveals that over one in four flights operated by South Korean airlines experienced delays in 2024. According to the Korean Transport Ministry, the average delay rate for both domestic and international flights across 10 domestic carriers was 25.7%, as reported by Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
Out of 678,489 flights recorded during 2024, 174,078 were delayed. Under Transport Ministry guidelines, a flight is considered delayed if it departs or arrives more than 15 minutes past its scheduled time. The ministry attributes the high delay rate to increased international flights, which have led to greater airport congestion, as well as frequent turbulence and airspace restrictions affecting international flight paths.
A closer look at the data shows that delay rates vary by carrier and route. Among international flights, Air Seoul—a low-cost subsidiary of Asiana Airlines—reported the highest delay rate at 46.6%, followed by Eastar Jet at 38% and Jin Air at 35.4%. On domestic routes, T’way Air topped the list with a delay rate of 31.3%, with Air Seoul also showing significant delays.
These figures compound ongoing challenges within South Korea’s airline industry, which has been under intense scrutiny following two recent high-profile safety incidents. In December 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed during an emergency landing at Muan International Airport (MWX) after a scheduled five-hour flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK). The tragedy claimed 179 lives out of the 181 passengers and crew on board. Then, on January 28, 2025, an Air Busan Airbus A321 caught fire at Busan Gimhae International Airport (PUS) before take-off, when a fire developed on the aircraft’s tail. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the incident was triggered by thermal runaway in a lithium-ion battery stored in an overhead bin, though all 168 passengers and seven crew members safely evacuated using emergency slides.
Adding to the challenges, Jeju Air—the carrier behind the fatal Boeing 737-800 incident—recorded the highest number of maintenance-related flight delays among domestic airlines during the first half of 2024. Data indicated that 536 out of 52,883 flights were delayed due to maintenance issues, resulting in a maintenance delay rate of 1.01%, which is notably above the global industry average of 0.64% for the period.
The rapid expansion of the South Korean aviation industry since the COVID-19 pandemic has led to soaring travel demand, placing immense pressure on airport infrastructure and air traffic control resources. As airlines scramble to meet increasing passenger numbers, concerns are mounting that the drive for revenue may be impacting punctuality and safety standards.
In light of these challenges and the recent incidents, both airlines and national aviation authorities are under pressure to address operational inefficiencies and restore public confidence. Efforts to improve scheduling, enhance maintenance practices, and expand airport and air traffic control capacities are expected to be prioritized in the coming months.
As the aviation sector in South Korea faces this critical juncture, industry stakeholders are keenly aware that balancing rapid growth with stringent safety and reliability measures is essential. Restoring timely performance and ensuring robust operational standards will be key to maintaining the nation’s reputation in the competitive global aviation market.
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