The service will begin on Feb. 10 with flights departing at 10:45 a.m. and arriving in Cebu at 2:05 p.m. every day.

South Korea's leading budget carrier has been expanding air routes to 10 cities in six countries from Gimhae International Airport since 2011.

The destinations include Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Okinawa, Taipei, Guam and Saipan.

Jeju Air flew 1.01 million passengers abroad from Gimhae International Airport last year, up 43.5 percent from a year earlier.

The number represents 11.6 percent of the total passengers who flew abroad from Gimhae International Airport last year.

"We are planning to expand new international routes from Gimhae International Airport," a Jeju Air official said.

Jeju Air also said it will increase the number of planes in its fleet to 39 this year.

The airline added its 31st plane by leasing a 189-seat B737-800 jet last month to strengthen services on routes to Jeju Island and Southeast Asian countries during the winter season.

Helped by route diversification and more planes, Jeju Air's net profit jumped 13 percent to 32.1 billion won (US$29 million) in the July-September period last year from 28.5 billion won a year earlier. Source from the Yonhap.