Korea’s first long-haul, hybrid service carrier, Air Premia, has announced that it will begin regular flights on a non-stop route departing from Seoul’s Incheon International Airport to Washington Dulles Airport starting 24 April 2026.
This route marks the first return of a Korean carrier to the route in 31 years since Korean Air’s inaugural service in July 1995, spanning 31 years as reported by Chosun.com.
Air Premia’s Incheon–Washington D.C. route will depart Incheon at 10:05 a.m. local time every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, arriving at 10:50 a.m. local time the same day in the U.S. The return flight will depart at 1:20 p.m. local time and arrive in Incheon at 5:45 p.m. local time the following day. The flight time is about 14 hours.
The flights will operate four days per week year-round on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner configured for 320 passengers in premium economy and economy classes.
According to the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s aviation information portal, the Incheon–Washington D.C. route was used by approximately 175,000 people last year, and over 158,000 people have used it this year up to November. Currently, only two airlines – Korean Air and Delta Air Lines – operate direct flights on this route.
The Washington D.C. route has long been considered a strategic market with limited supply, as few Korean carriers have offered nonstop services, restricting traveller choice despite steady demand. Air Premia’s entry is expected to serve as a turning point by expanding capacity and widening options for passengers.
Air Premia’s strategy is to compete through “cost-effectiveness.” Given that Air Premia’s transatlantic fares have been approximately 20% lower than Korean Air’s, the Washington D.C. route is also expected to offer price competitiveness.
With this new route, Air Premia will secure a total of five regular flights across the U.S. West Coast (Los Angeles, San Francisco), East Coast (New York, Washington D.C.), and Hawaii. The last time Air Premia added a new U.S. destination was the Newark route in 2023. The airline plans to further strengthen its position as a North America-focused hybrid carrier.
An Air Premia spokesperson said, “Washington, D.C. is a strategic route with consistently strong demand from government, international organizations, and research institutions. As we expand our North American network, we aim to provide even greater travel flexibility and convenience for both leisure and business passengers.”
Jack Potter, who heads the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, also released a statement saying the new route should generate at least $50 million for the local economy.
