Budget Carriers Compete for Slice of International Routes Korea's Budget Airline Market Getting Crowded Jeju to Boost Airline Industry in Bid for Tourists Airlines Battle It Out on Land Airline Industry Shifts Currency Exchange Burden to Passengers Korean Carriers Record Surge in U.S., Japan Flights

Business class passengers are dwindling faster than those traveling coach as the recession hits the airline industry.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines on Sunday said analysis of passenger numbers by seat class from September, when the global financial crisis struck, showed numbers in business class passengers dropping twice as fast as economy class passengers.

Korean Air saw a 12 percent fall in the number of business class passengers, compared to a 7 percent decrease in the economy class, while Asiana Airlines saw a 16 percent and a 7 percent drop.

“Increasing numbers of people who used to fly business class are using economy class,” an industry insider said. “And companies are cancelling overseas business trips or stop staff flying business class to save expenses.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )