Asiana marks 300 million passengers

Asiana Airlines, one of the nation’s leading air carriers, will roll out a series of sales to celebrate reaching 300 million passengers since the service began in 1988.

The country’s No. 2 airline said Friday that it will sell seven domestic routes including round trips from airports in Busan, Incheon and Gimpo to Jeju Island at 30,000 won ($25.60) each.

The sale is effective Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Thursday and Friday, Asiana Airlines plans to sell nine international round-trip tickets at a discounted price ranging from 130,000 won to 190,000 won. They include round trips from airports in Incheon and Busan to Tokyo and Fukuoka in Japan as well as Hong Kong, Manila and more.

The sale tickets will be available only on the air carrier’s official web page, Asiana Airlines said.

Additionally, the air carrier will selectively distribute free international itineraries and gifts to some of those who participate in an online quiz that starts Tuesday.

“The fact that 300 million passengers used our air carrier means all Koreans have made trips with Asiana at least six times,” an Asiana Airlines spokesperson said.

“In 2001, we accumulated 100 million passengers 13 years after the company was founded, and we hit 200 million eight years after that. It took seven more years to hit 300 million, which means the number of passengers using our air carrier is gradually increasing at a faster speed.”

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]