The airline chosen for this trip to the Kansai region of Japan was “Eastar Airlines.” It had been a while since I last used Eastar Airlines, having utilized their services during a trip to Jeju Island a long time ago. However, this opportunity led me to opt for Eastar Airlines once again.
Eastar Airlines reportedly suffered significant economic losses due to the impact of COVID-19 until recently. The drastic decline in travel demand after the spread of COVID-19 led to a temporary disappearance of overseas routes. Now, with the gradual recovery from COVID-19, they have resumed operating overseas routes relatively recently.
Whether due to the lingering effects of these circumstances or not, the ticket prices were slightly more affordable compared to those of other airlines. The flight distance from Incheon Airport to Kansai Airport is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. Since there was no need to opt for major carriers like Korean Air or Asiana Airlines, especially for such a short flight, a comparison with Low-Cost Carriers (LCC) like Air Seoul and T’way Air showed that Eastar Airlines was about 50,000 won cheaper. Hence, naturally, Eastar Airlines became the choice for this trip.
“September 21-27, 2023”
The departure flight was scheduled for September 21, with the return flight set for September 27. To maximize the time spent in Japan, I chose a morning departure for the outbound flight and an evening return. The round-trip fare, covering all costs, was 291,600 won. This fare included the option to check in one piece of baggage. Despite the last-minute booking, it was a reasonable price, allowing for a smooth journey.
“Persistent Departure Delays with Eastar Airlines”
Whether it was an issue with Eastar Airlines or the airport itself remained uncertain, but the departure was continuously delayed. Originally, the flight from Korea to Japan was scheduled to depart at 8:45 AM and arrive around 10:20 AM. However, due to approximately a one-hour delay, the departure was not until after 9:30 AM. We arrived at Kansai International Airport well past 11 AM, almost missing the lunch hour.
Although the return flight experienced a relatively minor delay of about 20 minutes, it was still a delay. Whether this was a common issue with budget airlines or if there were problems with the overall flight schedule remained unknown. Nevertheless, it was quite inconvenient to have the departure on the same day when others in our group, departing from a different location, arrived at Kansai International Airport on time while we faced significant delays departing from Incheon Airport.
“Viewing Incheon Songdo from the Sky”
Despite the challenges, the plane eventually took off. Although the departure was well behind schedule, experiencing air travel overseas after COVID-19 brought a renewed sense of excitement. Securing a window seat allowed me to enjoy the view of Incheon Songdo shortly after takeoff. Buildings that seemed massive from the ground appeared like toy structures from the sky, resembling something out of a SimCity game.
“No In-Flight Entertainment”
As an LCC airline, Eastar Airlines did not offer in-flight entertainment. I didn’t expect personal monitors on the seats for such a short-haul flight, and since it was only a 1 hour and 20 minutes journey, I didn’t pre-order any in-flight meals. Ultimately, it wasn’t a significant issue, especially considering the short duration and the fact that I had a meal before boarding.
Passing the time reading a book on the e-reader app I had prepared for the flight, we soon found ourselves arriving at Kansai International Airport. The timing of the arrival seemed fitting, just as it was starting to get a bit dull. The flight that departed around 9:40 AM arrived at Kansai International Airport at around 11:30 AM.
While the overall process, including pre- and post-flight procedures, took about 5 hours, the pure flight time of 1 hour and 20 minutes wasn’t too boring or tiring.
Having disembarked from the overseas connecting flight, it was now time to move to the immigration counters at Kansai International Airport.
“Incheon Airport – Kansai International Airport”
- Airline: Eastar Airlines
- Time: September 21, 2023, 8:45 AM – 10:20 AM (Delayed, departed at 9:40 AM – arrived at 11:30 AM)
- Flight Number: ZE 611
- Aircraft: B738