Jeju Air announced in November 2018, it is ordering 40 737 MAX 8 airplanes with options for 10 additional jets. The deal, is the largest order ever placed by a Korean low cost carrier and reflects rising demand for air travel in South Korea. The new aircraft would be delivered between 2022 and 2026.

Throughout 2019, Jeju Air maintained strong operational momentum. Passenger traffic continued to rise, supported by sustained demand on Korea–Japan and Korea–Southeast Asia routes. However, this trajectory was abruptly disrupted in 2020 by the global outbreak of COVID-19. International travel restrictions severely impacted Jeju Air’s core business model, which depended heavily on cross-border leisure travel. The airline responded by shifting focus toward domestic routes, particularly the highly trafficked Seoul–Jeju corridor, one of the busiest domestic air routes in the world. During the pandemic period from 2020 to 2022, Jeju Air, like many LCCs, encountered regulatory scrutiny and financial strain; reports indicate that it accumulated fines and operational suspensions related to aviation law breaches during these years.

The airline continued to operate a standardized Boeing 737 fleet, maintaining cost efficiency even as international expansion remained limited.

A major strategic turning point occurred as global travel restrictions eased in 2022 and 2023. Jeju Air resumed suspended international routes and launched new services, particularly to Japan and Southeast Asia.

Parallel to route expansion, fleet modernization became a central component of Jeju Air’s post-pandemic strategy. The airline had placed significant orders for the Boeing 737-8 (737 MAX) aircraft with the first arriving in November 2023, with plans to introduce dozens of these more fuel-efficient jets to replace older B737-800 models.

By 2024, Jeju Air had already begun receiving and operating these newer aircraft, integrating them into its fleet as part of a broader effort to reduce operating costs, improve fuel efficiency, and support longer-range routes. The gradual replacement and supplementation of older 737-800 aircraft with newer models reflected a long-term strategy to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly cost-sensitive market.

Despite these advances, late 2024 brought a major crisis. In December 2024, a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 operating a flight from Bangkok to Muan, skidded along a runway, crashed into a wall and burst into flames, officials said. A total of 181 people were onboard and only two flight attendants survived.

This event became one of the most serious aviation disasters in South Korean history and triggered intense regulatory scrutiny of the airline’s safety practices, maintenance procedures, and operational standards. The incident also highlighted the airline’s high aircraft utilization rates, which, while economically efficient, raised concerns about potential impacts on maintenance and crew fatigue.

Following the accident, Jeju Air faced reputational challenges and increased oversight from aviation authorities. However, the airline continued its operations while implementing safety reviews and improvements. At the same time, it maintained its growth trajectory, with continued delivery of new aircraft and expansion of routes planned into 2025 and beyond, including additional Japanese destinations such as Hakodate and further Southeast Asian services.

By the mid-2020s, Jeju Air had evolved into a mature low-cost carrier with a diversified network, a modernizing fleet, and a strategic focus on both efficiency and expansion.