The waterfront area of Meriken Park in Kobe, Japan / Courtesy of Jeju Air
Jeju Air said Monday it will launch daily flights between Incheon International Airport and Kobe, Japan, starting June 11, expanding its Japan network as travel demand to regional destinations continues to grow.
The low-cost carrier said the new route will operate seven times a week. Flights will depart Incheon International Airport at 1:35 p.m. and arrive at Kobe Airport at 3:15 p.m. Return flights will leave Kobe at 4:15 p.m. and land in Incheon at 6:15 p.m.
The airline said Kobe, located in Japan’s Kansai region alongside Osaka and Kyoto, has become a popular destination for travelers seeking food, golf and hot spring experiences in a more relaxed urban setting.
The city is known for Kobe beef, bakery tours and attractions including Kobe Port Tower, Meriken Park and the Nunobiki Ropeway. Arima Onsen, considered one of Japan’s three major hot spring destinations, also draws visitors from across Asia.
Jeju Air said Kobe Golf Club, which opened in 1903 on Mount Rokko, remains one of Japan’s best-known golf courses.
Drawing on data from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Statistics Korea, the airline noted that Hyogo prefecture — home to the city of Kobe — maintained a passport ownership rate of approximately 20 percent in 2024, ranking seventh among the nation’s prefectures. According to the carrier, these figures suggest a burgeoning demand for inbound travel among Japanese residents.
To commemorate the launch, Jeju Air said customers who book June travel via its website or mobile app by May 24 and enable push notifications will be eligible for 30,000 J-points. The carrier is also providing promotional discounts on airfare, baggage fees and preordered in-flight meals.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
