Fifty-seat regional jets are set to take to the skies here from the first half of 2016, shortening travel times while offering fares on par with bullet train tickets. 

The country’s low-cost carrier uSKY Air and air taxi firm Korea Express Air are waiting for the government’s approval to begin commercial flight services with small and medium-sized regional jets.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it issued an aircraft and engine safety validation certificate to a Brazilian-made ERJ-145 twin-engine jet, which will be operated by Korea Express Air. It is the first plane made in the South American country to be approved here.

“I believe that the small passenger jet market has potential to heat up like the budget carrier market once we successfully break into it,” Korea Express Air official Noh Sang-rae said.

He said previous studies by the government and market research firms have shown that “aircrafts that carry no more than 100 passengers have business feasibility to connect regional airports.”

After receiving air operator certificates from regional aviation administrations, the firm based in Yangyang International Airport, Gangwon Province, plans to launch flights to link Yangyang to Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province as early as January 2016.

According to the firm, passengers will be able to travel the distance within an hour, whereas it would take more than six hours by express bus.

Korea Express Air expects to lease four more jets by 2018 and expand its routes to the country’s southern resort island of Jejudo.

Analysts said the smaller regional jets that carry some 50 passengers could expand the transportation mobility options available to business groups and invigorate regional airports, but safety issues need to be addressed in order to generate sufficient demand.

“It’s a niche market where full-service carriers and budget airlines have not entered,” said Bang Min-jin, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, citing budget carriers such as Jeju Air and Jin Air flying with aircrafts with seating capacities of 180 passengers, like the Boeing 737-800.

“But I doubt if many passengers will opt for the option, as some Korean people, especially the elderly, still avoid no-frill carriers due to safety concerns,” she said.

Meanwhile, uSKY Air also expects to being commercial flights in the first half of next year. Its pilots are currently undergoing training with Canada-based plane maker Bombardier’s CRJ-200.

With Ulsan Airport as its hub, the carrier intends to launch flights connecting Ulsan and Gimpo at around 55,000 won ($47) for a one-way ticket, according to a company official.

By Park Han-na  (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)