South Korea’s government has ordered budget airlines to reduce flight hours and hire more maintenance workers as it tightens safety measures after last month’s deadly Jeju Air Co. crash.
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At a meeting on Thursday, the transport ministry pushed the chief executive officers of nine local low-cost carriers to improve safety standards. In a statement after the meeting, the ministry said “no company can survive if it focuses on cost-cutting”.
Authorities will “intensively monitor” flight hours, the size of maintenance workforces and procedures, and tighten certification on buying new aircraft and operating new routes, it said.
Carriers violating the new safety regulations will have their flight operation permits suspended, the ministry warned, adding it will disclose the information to the public.
The stronger measures came after the December 29 Jeju Air crash killed 179 of the 181 passengers and crew on board in the nation’s worst air disaster.
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Investigations begin after only two of 181 people survive crash of South Korean airliner
Investigations begin after only two of 181 people survive crash of South Korean airliner
The latest moves come a day after South Korean authorities said they are also planning to change the design of airports after questions arose whether the design of Muan International Airport might have exacerbated the accident.