Aero K Adds New Matsuyama Cheongju Route From January 2027 as Ehime Expands Korea Connectivity

Image credit – Aero K

Aero K will launch a new Matsuyama–Cheongju route on 2 January 2027, giving Ehime Prefecture another direct link with South Korea and expanding Matsuyama Airport’s international network to a record 27 weekly flights. The South Korean low-cost carrier plans to operate the service three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays using an Airbus A320. The route follows a sold-out inbound charter programme in June and a short period of additional services in October, giving local authorities evidence that demand exists on both sides of the market.

For travellers, the significance goes beyond one new flight. Cheongju gives residents of Ehime another relatively short international trip option, while Korean travellers gain direct access to Matsuyama, Dogo Onsen and a wider part of Shikoku without first travelling through Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka.

What Has Aero K Announced?

Ehime Prefecture confirmed on 30 September 2026 that Aero K had decided internally to begin scheduled service between Matsuyama Airport and Cheongju International Airport from 2 January 2027.

The route is planned to operate three times weekly:

• Tuesday
• Thursday
• Saturday

The airline is expected to use an Airbus A320.

The start date and schedule remain subject to final coordination with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and airport-related organisations. Ehime Prefecture has therefore cautioned that operating details could still change before launch.

Why Is the New Route Important for Matsuyama Airport?

The Matsuyama–Cheongju service will be the first new international route at Matsuyama Airport in roughly three years, following the launch of the Busan route.

Once Aero K begins scheduled operations, Matsuyama Airport’s international network is expected to reach a record 27 flights per week across Seoul, Busan, Taipei and Cheongju.

The new route also means Ehime will have three direct links with South Korea:

• Seoul
• Busan
• Cheongju

Ehime Prefecture says this will give it the highest number of Korea routes among airports in the Chugoku and Shikoku region.

That matters because South Korea is already an important inbound market for Ehime, and the prefecture has been actively trying to spread demand beyond Seoul and Busan.

What Happened With the June Charter Flights?

The January launch is not based on untested demand.

In June 2026, Aero K operated a series of inbound charter flights from Cheongju to Matsuyama. The programme ran on 2, 4, 6 and 9 June, creating four round trips focused on passengers travelling from South Korea to Ehime.

Those charter flights sold out.

Ehime Prefecture said travel companies in South Korea responded positively to several aspects of the destination, including:

• the short distance between Matsuyama Airport and the city centre;
• the concentration of major visitor attractions in Matsuyama;
• tourism opportunities elsewhere in eastern and southern Ehime; and
• the potential for themed itineraries such as golf tourism.

The June performance became an important proof point in negotiations for a scheduled service.

Why Did Aero K Choose Cheongju?

Cheongju sits in central South Korea and gives Aero K access to a market positioned between the country’s major northern and southern population centres.

Ehime Prefecture describes the wider Cheongju commercial area as having a population of around 5.5 million.

That location is strategically important.

Travellers in central South Korea may otherwise need to travel towards Seoul or Busan for some international routes. By offering a direct Matsuyama service from Cheongju, Aero K can target a different geographic market rather than competing only for passengers already concentrated around the largest hubs.

Cheongju is also Aero K’s main base.

The airline already operates direct international routes from Cheongju to several Japanese airports, and Matsuyama will become its first Shikoku destination.

What Happened Between the June Charter and the January Launch?

The route development has happened in stages.

After the June charter programme sold out, Ehime Prefecture continued discussions with Aero K.

In July, prefectural representatives travelled to Cheongju and met the airline directly as part of efforts to secure regular scheduled service.

Before the January start, Aero K also arranged a temporary operating period from 14 to 25 October 2026.

Those flights were scheduled three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays for a total of six round trips. Unlike the June charter flights, the October services were available for outbound passengers from Matsuyama as well as inbound Korean travellers.

This phased approach allowed the airline and local authorities to test both inbound and outbound demand before the start of the full scheduled route.

How Long Will the Flight Take?

Ehime Prefecture estimates the flight time between Matsuyama and Cheongju at about 90 minutes.

That makes the route relatively short for international travel.

For residents of Ehime and wider Shikoku, the new link could make Cheongju suitable for shorter breaks rather than only longer overseas holidays.

For Korean travellers, Matsuyama becomes similarly accessible.

The short flight time also gives the route an advantage over journeys requiring domestic surface transport to a larger hub airport before departure.

What Can Korean Travellers See in Ehime?

The route is being developed primarily around tourism growth as well as outbound demand.

Matsuyama is one of Shikoku’s best-known visitor cities.

Its major attractions include Dogo Onsen, widely associated with Japan’s historic bathing culture, and Matsuyama Castle, which stands above the city and provides broad views across the surrounding area.

The prefecture is also trying to encourage visitors to travel beyond central Matsuyama.

Eastern Ehime offers industrial heritage, islands and regional food experiences, while southern Ehime includes coastal landscapes and smaller towns.

The June charter packages specifically included itineraries extending beyond central Matsuyama, indicating that the route is intended to support tourism across the prefecture rather than only city breaks.

Why Is South Korea So Important to Ehime Tourism?

South Korean demand has already helped support Ehime’s recent tourism growth.

At the September announcement, the prefecture said both its Seoul and Busan routes had recorded strong performance.

Ehime has also reported strong growth in foreign overnight stays.

For the first half of 2026, foreign guest nights increased by around 28.6% year on year, according to figures cited by the prefecture.

The prefecture also highlighted that foreign overnight stays in 2025 were around 2.7 times higher than in 2019, before the pandemic.

These historical figures help explain why another Korean route is being added now.

The strategy is not simply about increasing flight numbers. It is about expanding the number of source markets within South Korea itself.

What Does the Route Mean for Outbound Travellers From Ehime?

Local demand is considered essential to the route’s long-term stability.

Ehime Prefecture has said it plans to work with travel companies and the Korea Tourism Organization to promote Cheongju and wider South Korea to residents of the prefecture.

The government is also supporting initiatives aimed at younger travellers, including passport acquisition and study or training travel by university and vocational students.

That indicates the route is not being treated purely as an inbound-tourism operation.

A sustainable international route generally needs balanced demand in both directions, especially outside peak holiday periods.

For Ehime residents, Cheongju can also function as a gateway to central South Korea.

How Could the Route Benefit the Regional Economy?

A private-sector think tank cited by Ehime Prefecture estimates that the new service could generate an annual economic impact of about ¥1.2 billion.

That figure is an estimate, not a confirmed future outcome.

The potential benefits extend across several parts of the visitor economy:

• hotels;
• restaurants;
• retail;
• local transport;
• attractions;
• tour operators; and
• regional tourism businesses.

More direct flights can also encourage longer stays because travellers do not need to spend as much time connecting through other airports.

The prefecture is therefore treating the route as part of a wider tourism and regional-development strategy.

How Does Aero K Fit Into Japan–Korea Travel?

Aero K has been expanding its Japanese network from Cheongju.

Ehime Prefecture noted in September that the carrier already linked Cheongju with a broad range of Japanese airports, including New Chitose, Obihiro, Narita, Ibaraki, Nagoya, Kansai, Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, Hiroshima and Okinawa.

Matsuyama becomes especially notable because it gives Aero K its first route into Shikoku.

For the airline, that diversifies its Japanese network beyond major metropolitan gateways.

For Matsuyama, it brings a carrier that has already developed a strong Japan-focused operating model.

Why This Matters

The Aero K Matsuyama–Cheongju route matters because it strengthens direct international access to a part of Japan that receives far less overseas traffic than Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka.

For Korean visitors, the flight creates a straightforward way to reach Ehime and Shikoku without connecting through another Japanese airport.

For residents of Ehime, it opens another short-haul international travel option.

The route also reflects a broader shift in Japan’s inbound tourism geography.

Demand is gradually spreading beyond the largest metropolitan centres, and regional governments are trying to capture that growth with direct international services.

Matsuyama’s rising international frequency is part of that pattern.

If the Cheongju service performs strongly, it could also strengthen the case for additional regional international routes in the future.

What Travellers Should Know

The route is scheduled to begin on 2 January 2027, but final operational coordination is still under way.

Before Booking

• The launch date is planned for 2 January 2027.
• Flights are scheduled three times weekly.
• Operating days are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
• Aero K plans to use an Airbus A320.
• Approximate flight time is around 90 minutes.
• The route is still subject to final regulatory and airport coordination.
• Timings could change before launch.
• Travellers should check Aero K’s official booking system for final schedules and fares.
• Passport and entry requirements should be checked before travel.
• Matsuyama Airport has relatively convenient access to central Matsuyama.
• Outbound passengers should confirm onward transport options from Cheongju Airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Aero K start Matsuyama–Cheongju flights?

The route is scheduled to begin on 2 January 2027.

How often will Aero K fly the route?

Flights are planned three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Which aircraft will Aero K use?

The service is expected to operate with an Airbus A320.

Has Aero K flown this route before?

Yes. The airline operated inbound charter flights in June 2026, and those flights sold out. It also scheduled a short period of additional services in October before the regular route launch.

How many international flights will Matsuyama Airport have after the launch?

Ehime Prefecture says international services are expected to reach a record 27 flights per week, including Seoul, Busan, Taipei and Cheongju.

Matsuyama’s International Network Is Entering a New Phase

The arrival of Aero K gives Matsuyama Airport another direct gateway into South Korea and represents an important step in Ehime’s efforts to build a broader international visitor market.

The route did not appear suddenly.

It follows a sold-out charter programme, direct negotiations with the airline, promotional activity in South Korea and temporary operations ahead of the scheduled launch.

That sequence suggests the January 2027 service is being built around measured demand rather than speculation.

For travellers, the practical attraction is simple: a roughly 90-minute direct flight connecting central South Korea with one of Shikoku’s most important tourism cities.

For Ehime, the stakes are larger.

The route is expected to lift Matsuyama Airport to a record 27 international flights per week and deepen a Korea market that is already supporting strong inbound growth.

Whether the service becomes a long-term success will depend on maintaining demand in both directions.

If that balance can be achieved, Matsuyama–Cheongju could become an important example of how regional Japanese airports use short-haul international routes to spread tourism beyond the country’s biggest gateways.