Korea Flights on Sale: T'way Air Heats Up Singapore Route Competition

SINGAPORE – December 18, 2025 – The competitive Singapore-Korea air travel market is intensifying as the year closes, with South Korean low-cost carrier (LCC) T'way Air launching an aggressive year-end sales campaign for flights to Seoul and Jeju Island. The move is a clear strategic play to capture a larger slice of the burgeoning demand from Singaporean travelers and challenges rival airlines to match its value proposition.

With a booking deadline of December 31, 2025, T'way Air's promotion offers significant savings for travel periods extending well into 2026. This campaign not only provides immediate value for last-minute holiday planners but also caters to early-bird travelers mapping out their trips for the coming year, signaling a new phase of competition on these lucrative routes.

Decoding the Deals: A Multi-Layered Discount Strategy

T'way Air's promotion is structured with multiple layers of discounts, designed to appeal to a wide range of travelers. The core of the offer is a promo code, FLYDEC, which provides up to 10% off one-way and round-trip fares on its Singapore-Incheon (Seoul) and Singapore-Jeju routes. The travel validity for these discounted fares is notably generous, running through March 28, 2026, for Seoul and extending to October 24, 2026, for the scenic Jeju Island.

Beyond the initial percentage-based discount, the airline is offering stackable coupons that further reduce costs based on booking value and destination:

• Regular Coupon: A SGD 25 discount is available for bookings over SGD 400 on both Seoul and Jeju routes, for travel completed by March 31, 2026.
• Early Bird Coupon: Specifically targeting Jeju tourism, a SGD 35 coupon applies to bookings over SGD 350 for travel between April 1 and October 24, 2026. This incentivizes advance planning for trips to the popular resort island.
• Welcome Coupon: To grow its customer base, T'way Air is offering a SGD 20 coupon to new members who sign up on its website, applicable on bookings over SGD 180.

The airline operates daily services on both routes, utilizing modern aircraft to enhance the passenger experience. Flights to Seoul's Incheon International Airport are served by wide-body Airbus A330-200/300 aircraft, while the direct route to Jeju is flown by the newer, fuel-efficient Boeing 737-8. The flight schedules are designed for convenience, with overnight flights from Singapore arriving in Korea in the morning, allowing travelers to maximize their first day.

Battle for the Skies: LCCs Intensify Fare Wars

T'way Air's campaign is not happening in a vacuum. It is a calculated move in the increasingly crowded and price-sensitive Singapore-Korea aviation sector. The airline's offers directly challenge other LCCs that have been vying for the attention of budget-conscious Singaporeans. Earlier in December, Scoot ran a flash sale with one-way fares to Jeju starting from $190. Meanwhile, Jeju Air has been actively promoting its own 2026 travel deals, including new member discounts.

With its multi-tiered discount structure and base fares reported to be as low as S$159 to Jeju, T'way Air is positioning itself as a highly competitive option. The extended travel window for its Jeju promotion, stretching to October 2026, is a key differentiator, offering more flexibility than the typically shorter validity periods seen in competitors' flash sales. This allows travelers to plan for peak seasons like autumn, a popular time to visit Korea for its foliage.

In contrast, full-service carriers like Singapore Airlines and Korean Air continue to operate at a higher price point, with round-trip fares to Seoul often starting above SGD 500. While they offer their own promotions, often tied to credit card partnerships or loyalty programs, they cater to a different market segment less focused on the absolute lowest fare. T'way Air's strategy appears squarely aimed at capturing the market segment that prioritizes value and is willing to forgo the frills of full-service travel in exchange for significant savings on airfare. This aggressive pricing could trigger a new round of responsive promotions from rival LCCs, further benefiting consumers.

Beyond Seoul: Driving Tourism to the Shores of Jeju Island

A standout feature of T'way Air's strategy is its significant emphasis on Jeju Island. By offering a direct daily service and coupling it with targeted promotions like the 'Early Bird Coupon,' the airline is actively working to diversify Korean tourism beyond its bustling capital. For many years, Seoul has been the primary gateway for international visitors, but LCCs are changing that dynamic.

Direct, affordable flights make secondary destinations like Jeju far more accessible. Previously, a trip to the island often required a connecting flight from Seoul, adding time and cost. T'way Air's direct route removes this barrier, positioning Jeju as a standalone holiday destination for Singaporeans seeking nature, hiking, and a more relaxed atmosphere. The island, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers a stark contrast to the urban energy of Seoul, with its volcanic landscapes, scenic coastlines, and unique local culture.

This focus aligns with the goals of tourism authorities to promote regional destinations and distribute the economic benefits of tourism more widely across the country. The success of such LCC-driven routes has been shown to create a powerful flywheel effect, where increased accessibility drives visitor numbers, which in turn justifies more flight frequency and encourages local investment in tourism infrastructure.

Tapping into Strong Demand for Korean Culture and Travel

The timing of T'way Air's promotion is impeccable, capitalizing on the sustained and powerful wave of interest in South Korean culture. Fueled by the global popularity of K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean cuisine, demand for travel to the country from Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region remains exceptionally strong. Travelers are eager to experience the locations they see on screen and immerse themselves in the vibrant modern culture.

T'way's campaign cleverly highlights the year-round appeal of Korea, from the cherry blossoms of spring at Gyeongbokgung Palace to the vibrant autumn foliage along Namsan trails and the festive winter lights in Myeongdong. By offering a travel window that spans across spring, summer, and autumn 2026 for its Jeju route, the airline enables travelers to plan their trips to coincide with these coveted seasonal experiences. The long-term planning horizon is a significant draw for families and working professionals who need to arrange their leave well in advance. As airlines continue to aggressively compete for this robust market, Singaporean travelers planning their 2026 Korean getaways are poised to be the biggest winners.