SUM Air Signs MOU with Ulsan Metropolitan City and Korea Airports Corporation to Promote Ulsan Airport Development

Strengthening Regional Air Connectivity and Supporting Balanced Regional Growth

SUM Air Co., Ltd. (CEO Yongduck Choi), a small aircraft operator, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 18 with Ulsan Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom) and Korea Airports Corporation (Ulsan Airport Director Kim Dong-woo). The agreement aims to expand regional air routes and enhance the vitality of Ulsan Airport.

This marks SUM Air’s first partnership with a metropolitan government since acquiring its Air Carrier License for small aircraft operations from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) in February 2025, and signals the start of full-scale regional network development.

The three parties agreed to collaborate on:

• Opening direct routes including Ulsan–Gimpo, Ulsan–Jeju, and Ulsan–Ulleung

• Joint initiatives to revitalize Ulsan Airport

• Improving passenger load factors on regional routes

SUM Air is a regional air mobility (RAM) carrier focused on connecting cities and islands as well as underserved inland regions. The airline has signed a contract to introduce eight ATR72-600 aircraft (72-seat configuration), manufactured by ATR, a subsidiary of Airbus at its Toulouse plant. The first aircraft is scheduled for lease delivery in the second half of 2025.

The airline is currently preparing to operate several regional and island routes, including Gimpo–Sacheon, Sacheon–Jeju, Gimpo–Pohang/Gyeongju, and Pohang/Gyeongju–Jeju. The Ulsan region, in particular, is expected to play a key role, with plans to establish a new air network including a future route to Ulleung Island, enhancing both regional transportation convenience and economic development.

Ulsan Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom stated, “This agreement will significantly improve travel access for Ulsan residents to island regions such as Ulleungdo and Baengnyeongdo. We will continue to focus on revitalizing Ulsan Airport to ensure convenient and safe airport usage for all citizens.”

SUM Air CEO Yongduck Choi added, “As a company founded to realize the vision of regional air mobility, we are committed to delivering safe and efficient air service through our partnership with Ulsan City and Korea Airports Corporation. We also intend to actively support public aviation roles such as emergency air transport.”

Notably, SUM Air was the first operator to receive a small aircraft Air Carrier License after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport revised the seat limit in 2024 from 50 to 80 seats.

The incoming ATR72-600 aircraft will feature a single-class 72-seat economy configuration with a seat pitch of 29 inches. Equipped with the latest twin turboprop XTM engines (TPW: Turbo Propeller Engine), the aircraft delivers strong performance in fuel efficiency, safety, and environmental sustainability.

At Maximum Landing Weight (MLW), the aircraft’s Actual Landing Distance (ALD) is just 640 meters, allowing for safe operations on short runways of around 1,200 meters such as the under-construction Ulleung Airport and the planned Heuksan and Baengnyeong airports.