FTC approves combination of Jin Air, Air Seoul, Air Busan

The proposed merger of Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul has cleared its final regulatory hurdle, paving the way for the three low-cost carriers (LCCs) to officially operate as a single carrier under the Jin Air brand beginning March 17, the nation’s antitrust authority said Thursday. Under the approvals by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), the three carriers will be integrated through Jin Air's absorption of Air Busan and Air Seoul following Korean Air’s acquisition of Asiana Airlines. The approvals remove the major regulatory obstacles to the restructuring of Hanjin Group's airline business, following the planned launch of the integrated Korean Air as a full-service carrier on Dec. 17. Jin Air will assume the assets, liabilities, employees and legal status of the two other carriers. The combined airline will become Korea's largest LCC by fleet size, with about 58 aircraft in operation by the three carriers combined as of the end of 2025. It will combine the three carriers' routes, aircraft and operating infrastructure, with the a