Eastar Jet Busan-Hong Kong flights are now operating

Eastar Jet started flying between Busan and Hong Kong every day on October 25, 2026. The first flights operated with a reported 98% load factor. The current timetable leaves Gimhae International Airport at 21:30 and reaches Hong Kong at 00:10 the next day. The return leaves Hong Kong at 02:00 and lands in Busan at 06:30. All four times are local.

The timing matters as much as the new nonstop option. Travelers landing in Hong Kong shortly after midnight should arrange ground transport before departure, while passengers taking the 02:00 return need to work backward from Eastar Jet's international check-in deadline.

Original editorial illustration. It shows a generic aircraft and a fictional coastal cityscape, not Eastar Jet's livery, the operating aircraft or an exact view of either city.

The practical answer: the daily PUS-HKG service is operating, but the return now reaches Busan at 06:30 rather than the 07:05 shown in the September launch announcement. Check the time on the current itinerary before arranging a pickup or a separate morning connection.

What changed after the first flights

Eastar Jet confirmed the launch on October 26 after holding a departure event at Gimhae the previous evening and a welcome event for the first Hong Kong passengers the next morning. The Asia Business Daily, ChosunBiz and NewsPim reported the airline's current schedule and the first-flight figures.

The 06:30 arrival is 35 minutes earlier than the time in the September announcement. That can help with a morning plan, but it does not remove immigration, baggage collection or connection risk. Use the current booking and any later airline message for the chosen date.

Read the timetable across midnight

The outbound reaches Hong Kong at 00:10 on the calendar day after departure. A Sunday 21:30 departure from Busan, for example, is scheduled to arrive early Monday. Hotel dates, airport pickups and travel insurance should use the Hong Kong arrival date, not only the Busan departure date.

The return is different. A 02:00 Hong Kong departure means check-in happens late on the previous evening or just after midnight. Eastar Jet currently recommends arriving three hours before an international departure and closes international check-in one hour before departure. For this flight, the recommendation points to about 23:00 on the preceding date, with check-in closing at 01:00 if the current rule still applies.

Plan Gimhae check-in around the airline's deadline

Eastar Jet's airport information lists its international counters on level 2 of Gimhae's international terminal. It recommends arriving three hours before departure and says international check-in closes one hour before the flight. The counter can change, so use the terminal screens on the day.

The airline's online check-in guide currently opens international online check-in 24 hours before departure and closes it 90 minutes before departure. Nationality, destination, ticket type or a need for document checks can make a passenger ineligible. Treat online check-in as a convenience, not permission to arrive after the airport deadline.

Check the purchased fare before packing

Eastar Jet's current rules allow one cabin bag weighing up to 10kg, with total dimensions of no more than 115cm and maximum sides of 50cm, 30cm and 35cm. The airport guide uses a different example shape for the same 115cm and 10kg ceiling, so the airline's allowance should control an Eastar Jet booking.

For international tickets, the airline says promotional fares may exclude checked baggage, while discount and regular fares currently include 15kg. Its advance baggage page says extra checked baggage can be bought or changed until 24 hours before departure. That page did not yet list Busan-Hong Kong in its route table when reviewed, so do not infer a charge from another route. Save the baggage line and total shown on the actual ticket.

Arrange the after-midnight Hong Kong transfer

Hong Kong International Airport's arrival guide sends arriving passengers through immigration, baggage reclaim and customs before the arrivals hall. A 00:10 touchdown does not mean being outside the terminal at 00:10.

The airport's current passenger FAQ says overnight buses operate between the airport and downtown after midnight. It also identifies taxis as the flexible alternative. Check the current route, stop and fare for the accommodation before flying. Do not assume the daytime Airport Express will still be running after immigration and baggage collection.

Check entry rules for the passport being carried

Hong Kong entry permission depends on nationality, travel purpose and length of stay. The airport notes that visa-free periods vary by nationality and directs travelers to the Immigration Department. Use the official visit and transit rules for the passport being used.

The same principle applies in South Korea for the return or for a Hong Kong resident beginning the trip there. A flight reservation does not prove entry eligibility. Recheck the relevant immigration authority before departure, especially when a trip involves a one-way ticket, an onward connection or a passport close to expiry.

Protect separate connections at both ends

The announced 00:10 arrival is poorly suited to a tight, separately booked onward flight. A delay, immigration, baggage collection and another airline's check-in deadline all sit between the two aircraft. If the tickets are separate, the onward airline may not protect the connection.

The same risk exists after the 06:30 arrival in Busan. Leave a realistic buffer before a domestic flight, train or fixed tour. Ask at check-in where checked baggage is tagged, and do not assume it will transfer between separate reservations.

Ten questions passengers have about the operating route

1. Are Eastar Jet's Busan-Hong Kong flights operating?

Yes. Eastar Jet says the first flights operated on October 25, 2026. The airline held a launch event in Busan and a welcome event for arriving passengers the next morning.

2. Will the Busan-Hong Kong flight operate every day?

The current schedule says daily, or seven times a week. Search both directions for the actual week needed because airlines can retime or cancel individual services.

3. What are the planned Eastar Jet flight times?

Busan is scheduled for a 21:30 departure and Hong Kong for a 00:10 arrival the next day. The return leaves Hong Kong at 02:00 and currently reaches Busan at 06:30. All times are local.

4. Can I book the route now?

The route is operating, but availability and price still depend on the date. Search the exact PUS-HKG trip on Eastar Jet and check the final fare, baggage and airport times before paying.

5. Which aircraft will Eastar Jet use?

The announcement material reviewed does not name an aircraft type. Do not choose a seat, cabin feature or bag strategy from an assumed fleet type. Use the aircraft shown in the reservation, while allowing for an operational swap.

6. How early should I arrive at Gimhae Airport?

Eastar Jet currently recommends arriving three hours before an international flight and closes check-in one hour before departure. It lists international check-in on level 2, but the exact counter can change.

7. Can I check in online for this route?

Eastar Jet generally offers international online check-in from 24 hours to 90 minutes before departure, but restrictions can apply by route, nationality and document-check need. Try the airline's official flow, and be prepared to use the airport counter.

8. Is checked baggage included?

It depends on the fare purchased. Eastar Jet's current international rules say discount and regular fares include 15kg, while a promotional fare may include none. The booking confirmation is the safest record for this new route.

9. How can I leave Hong Kong airport after the 00:10 arrival?

Hong Kong International Airport says overnight buses serve downtown after midnight, and taxis are another option. Immigration and baggage collection take time, so verify the overnight bus serving the hotel instead of planning around touchdown time.

10. Will one travel eSIM work in both Busan and Hong Kong?

Only if the plan's current coverage list explicitly includes both South Korea and Hong Kong. A country plan covers its named destination. A travel eSIM supplies ground mobile data, not onboard Wi-Fi.

Mobile data for Busan and Hong Kong

A Hong Kong eSIM fits a Hong Kong-only stay, while a South Korea eSIM fits time in Busan or elsewhere in South Korea. The Asia 12 areas eSIM is the route-matched regional option because its current coverage list includes both Hong Kong and South Korea. The live public catalog listed six Hong Kong plans and five South Korea plans when checked on October 26, with entry prices from USD1.40 in each destination.

Prices, networks, allowances, speed, validity and top-up support can change. Read the live card before checkout, and do not assume a plan can be reloaded unless that card says it supports top-up.

Install the eSIM while reliable internet is available, then follow its activation instructions so the plan does not start earlier than intended. Keep the flight reservation, hotel address, overnight transport route and entry documents available offline. Travelers new to eSIMs can check whether a phone supports eSIM and when to install an eSIM before travel.

Final checks before paying for PUS-HKG

• Search the exact outbound and return dates on Eastar Jet.
• Confirm that the itinerary shows PUS and HKG with no stop.
• Check the calendar date beside the 00:10 arrival.
• Save the final price and the baggage allowance attached to the fare.
• Recheck the airline's counter and check-in deadlines.
• Arrange an overnight bus or taxi for the Hong Kong arrival.
• Leave a wider buffer for any separately booked connection.
• Verify entry rules for every passport in the booking.
• Save the reservation, hotel address and first transfer offline.
• Reopen the booking before departure for a schedule change.

Sources and update boundaries for PUS-HKG

The operating status, daily frequency, first-flight figures and revised timetable were cross-checked across four October 26 reports based on Eastar Jet's launch update. Eastar Jet's own pages provide the schedule warning, check-in windows, airport guidance and current baggage boundaries. The two airport operators provide the passenger and transport guidance.

This page will be updated if Eastar Jet revises the timetable or materially changes the route's baggage, check-in or airport rules.

Recheck Eastar Jet, both airports, the relevant immigration authority and the live OpenSim catalog before travel.