Sum Air

Sum Air is a South Korean regional air mobility (RAM) carrier established on November 17, 2022, with its headquarters in Seoul. The airline's CEO is Yongduck Choi. It operates as a subsidiary of MAAF (Mobility as a Freedom), a Korean mobility firm that plans to expand into a broader mobility platform company focused on data collection and generation.

The carrier was founded to enhance regional connectivity, particularly between mainland cities and remote islands like Ulleungdo, Heuksando, and Baengnyeongdo, as well as linking underserved regional airports. This initiative aligns with the South Korean government's efforts to develop small airports and revitalize regional air transport. On February 17, 2025, Sum Air obtained its Air Carrier License for small aircraft operations from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), a milestone achieved following the government's 2024 revision to increase the maximum seat capacity for such licenses from 50 to 80. The airline is currently preparing to apply for its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

Sum Air's business model focuses on operating routes that support balanced national development and address regional depopulation. Its initial planned routes from its base at Gimpo Airport include Gimpo–Pohang/Gyeongju–Jeju and Gimpo–Sacheon–Jeju. The airline will be the first in Korea to operate the ATR72-600, a next-generation turboprop aircraft known for its suitability for short runways. The company has secured a lease for one new ATR72-600, with delivery scheduled for November 2025, and has a purchase agreement for eight additional aircraft to be introduced sequentially. In the long term, Sum Air has indicated plans to expand its network internationally to include destinations in mainland China and Japan.

Keywords: regional airline, South Korea, air mobility, island connectivity, turboprop aircraft, ATR72-600, Gimpo airport, regional transport, air carrier license, underserved routes, domestic flights, MAAF subsidiary, regional aviation, Pohang, Sacheon, Jeju, Ulleungdo, Asian aviation, short-haul flights, new airline