South Korean low-cost carrier Eastar Jet inaugurated a daily Busan–Hong Kong flight on 14 September 2026, expanding the airline’s Hong Kong footprint beyond its existing Seoul routes. The new service departs Gimhae International Airport at 10:05 and lands in Hong Kong at 12:45, with the return leg leaving at 14:00. Eastar uses a 189-seat Boeing 737-8 configured with 20 extra-leg-room ‘Biz seats’, targeting small- and-medium enterprise travellers and MICE traffic. The route is the first non-stop link between Busan and Hong Kong operated by a Korean LCC since 2020 and complements Cathay Pacific’s five-weekly service. Travel-management companies say the new frequency will shave at least two hours off itineraries that previously required a Seoul connection. It also comes as Hong Kong positions itself as a springboard to China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA); passengers arriving at HKIA can clear customs in as little as 20 minutes using the new ‘GBA Express’ bonded-bus transfer to Shenzhen and Zhongshan. Eastar’s entry sparks fresh competition on short-haul Northeast-Asia routes. Promotional return fares start at HK $1,180 inclusive of taxes—35 per cent below full-service rivals—though only 15 kilograms of checked baggage is included. Corporate travel buyers negotiating 2027 airline contracts may leverage the additional capacity to secure better fares on Korean sectors. From a mobility-compliance angle, Korean passport holders continue to enjoy 90-day visa-free access to Hong Kong, while Hong Kong residents visiting Busan can enter Korea visa-free for 30 days under the K-ETA waiver through 2027. Eastar confirmed that its crews will use HKIA’s crew e-channel, introduced earlier this year, further relieving pressure at manual counters. Tourism boards on both sides expect the flight to stimulate two-way leisure and business traffic. Busan’s city government is touting easier access to upcoming World Expo 2030 construction projects, whereas Hong Kong’s convention sector anticipates higher delegate flows from Korea for events such as FinTech Week in October.
Source: TheTraveler.org
