T'way Air Co. has taken the top spot in a customer satisfaction survey for budget carriers, with high scores in facilities and staff service, a consumer watchdog said Thursday.

According to the survey conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency on 1,000 consumers, T'way Air garnered the highest score of 3.52 points out of 5, slightly ahead of Air Busan Co. and Jin Air Co. each with 3.49. Eastar Jet and Jeju Air followed with 3.45 and 3.42 points, respectively. 

T'way Air, a Seoul-based budget carrier, scored the most points in facilities and staff service, as well as reservation and boarding procedures, the KCA said.

Air Busan, which is based in the southern port city of Busan, ranked first in flight management, in-flight facilities and airfare, it said.

The respondents showed high levels of satisfaction in low-cost carriers' staff service, and reservation and boarding procedures, but were relatively less content with the in-flight environment.

Frequent fliers were less likely to opt for budget airlines, and 9 out of 10 said they used the low-cost carriers because of their cheap prices, the agency said. (Yonhap)