Low-cost carrier (LCC) Air Premia is facing criticism from passengers due to frequent delays, schedule changes, and cancellations. Operational issues have caused one aircraft to be grounded, and the introduction of new aircraft has been delayed, resulting in the inability to operate as initially planned. Experts point out that if Air Premia continues to operate its aircraft on a tight schedule, safety and maintenance issues may arise.
On the 13th, according to the aviation industry, Air Premia announced that it would not operate the Incheon-Hong Kong route from the 30th of this month until the 30th of next month. The news that the aircraft would not be flying was communicated three weeks prior to departure. It explained that passengers who have already purchased tickets can change their schedule or receive a full refund without any fees.
The schedule for Air Premia is becoming increasingly tangled as one aircraft is out of service due to maintenance issues. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's aircraft registration status, Air Premia is currently operating six B787-9 aircraft on lease. With six aircraft needing to meet the schedules, only five are currently fulfilling their flights, which is affecting the overall timetable.
This year, Air Premia has announced several cancellations for the Incheon-Hong Kong and Incheon-Bangkok routes. The schedules for trans-Pacific routes from Incheon to San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles have also changed frequently. Complaints from passengers who purchased Air Premia tickets can be easily found in online communities.
There are observations that a lack of aircraft has prevented the company from responding to unexpected issues. Full-service carriers (FSC) have backup aircraft, so if there is a problem with their aircraft, they can switch to another one. It is often noted that airlines keep backup aircraft because punctuality in departure and arrival is critically important.
Frequent maintenance delays have also been cited as a chronic problem for Air Premia. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in last year's ranking of maintenance delay rates among 10 domestic airlines for domestic and international routes, Air Premia had the highest rate at 2.74%. This was followed by T’way Air (1.13%), AIR BUSAN (0.91%), Jeju Air (0.89%), and AIR SEOUL (0.79%). The maintenance delay rate measures the proportion of delays caused by aircraft maintenance issues and serves as an indicator of an airline's safety and punctuality.
Lee Hwi-young, a professor in the Department of Aviation Management at Inha Technical College, said, "There are no LCCs that have backup aircraft. If they continue to operate on a tight schedule, it can lead to safety and maintenance issues. While it may be a management strategy from the airline's perspective, ultimately, the consumers bear the brunt. There needs to be at least minimal institutional measures for aircraft management to protect the rights and interests of passengers."
Air Premia has stated that this is a temporary issue. A company official noted, "Due to the Russia-Ukraine war and Boeing strikes, the supply of aircraft parts has been difficult, causing maintenance delays. A new aircraft is expected to arrive this month, so the operating schedule should normalize starting next month."