Fares for domestic flights to rise

Korean Air Lines (KAL) said Friday that it would increase fares for domestic flights by an average of 12.1 percent from March 20. With the projected increase, the one-way fare for flights on KAL`s Seoul-Pusan route would rise from the current 53,500 won to 59,500 won on weekends and that for Seoul-Cheju flights from 69,000 won to 75,000 won. KAL officials said the hike was inevitable as the company`s accumulated deficit for the past three years had reached 400 billion won and the price of fuel also rose due to increases in international oil prices. Asiana Airlines was also reported to be under to pressure to implement similar increases, and is said to be considering the timing and size of any hike. KAL had sold children`s tickets on domestic flights for half the price of adult fares but decided to charge 75 percent from now on.

Park Won-Jae parkwj@donga.com