DULLES, VA — Airline and airport executives, staff and passengers gathered Friday at gate B45 at Washington Dulles International Airport to mark the start of Air Premia’s new nonstop service to Seoul Incheon International Airport.
The flights will operate four days per week year-round on a Boeing 787 configured for 320 passengers in premium economy and economy classes, according to a release. Dulles International Airport is Air Premia’s fifth U.S. destination and one of only two on the East Coast.
The launch adds a nonstop connection between the Washington region and South Korea. The National Capital Region is home to the second-largest Korean-born population on the East Coast, with more than 100,000 residents, according to the announcement.
“We are celebrating this first launch of new service between Dulles and South Korea in more than 30 years,” said Chryssa Westerlund, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. “These new flights bring our region a strong premium economy option for travel between Washington and Seoul.”
Passengers at the event watched a performance by the JUB Cultural Center that included traditional Korean fan dancing and drumming. Aviation enthusiasts also took an airport tour by mobile lounge that included a view of the aircraft landing. At the end of the event, passengers received gifts, according to the release.
“Today’s launch is more than just a new route; it’s a major milestone in our mission to connect the world,” said Kwangeun Park, chief strategy officer of Air Premia. “Washington, D.C., is a place where history is made and the future is shaped. By linking Seoul and D.C., we are not merely linking two airports; we are bridging the administrative capitals of our countries.”
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