In brief
In response to the Jeju Air disaster, South Korean authorities are enforcing stricter safety measures including reduced flight hours and enhanced pilot training.
South Korea is taking decisive action to reinforce safety protocols among its budget airlines following a tragic crash involving Jeju Air last month that killed 179 people. In a meeting held on Thursday, the nation’s transportation ministry instructed nine low-cost carriers to prioritize safety improvements over profitability, emphasizing the need to restore public confidence in the aviation sector.Jeju Air announced that it plans to decrease the average daily flight time of its aircraft from 14 hours to 12.8 hours and will hire an additional 41 maintenance workers, bringing its total maintenance staff up to 350. This directive is part of a broader initiative mandated by the ministry which, while not providing specific targets, calls for each airline to develop individual proposals to enhance safety.The fatal incident occurred when a Jeju Air Boeing
