South Korean hybrid carrier Air Premia is set to deepen its commitment to the U.S. market with a new nonstop route linking Seoul Incheon and Washington Dulles International Airport from April 24, 2026, a move that significantly strengthens transpacific connectivity for business, diplomatic and leisure travelers in both countries.

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Key Details of the New Incheon–Washington D.C. Service

Air Premia will operate four weekly nonstop flights between Incheon International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport starting April 24, 2026.

The year-round service is scheduled to run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, giving travelers consistent options throughout the week without the need for connections through other U.S. or Asian hubs.

The flights are planned with daytime departures on both sides of the Pacific. From Seoul, flight YP135 is scheduled to leave Incheon at 10:05 a.m. local time and arrive at Washington Dulles at 10:50 a.m. the same day, after a block time of around 13 hours 45 minutes.

The return service, YP136, will depart Washington at 1:20 p.m. and land back at Incheon at 5:45 p.m. the following day, for an approximate flight time of 15 hours 25 minutes.

Air Premia will operate the route with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured with about 320 seats in a two-class layout featuring the carrier’s signature wide premium economy cabin and standard economy.

The choice of the fuel-efficient 787 reflects the airline’s focus on long-haul point-to-point operations with an emphasis on passenger comfort and competitive fares.

The new route will initially be subject to final regulatory approvals on both sides, but schedules have been filed and ticket sales are scheduled to open on December 15, 2025.

The service is designed to run year-round, not just seasonally, signaling confidence in the long-term demand on the corridor.

A Major Step in Air Premia’s U.S. Network Expansion

The Incheon–Washington Dulles route will become Air Premia’s fourth mainland U.S. destination, complementing existing services to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, along with Honolulu in Hawaii.

With the addition of Washington, D.C., five of the airline’s nine planned routes will serve North America, underscoring its strategy as a U.S.-focused hybrid long-haul carrier.

Industry schedule data and company statements indicate that Air Premia has been steadily building a transpacific portfolio since it began long-haul operations, targeting major gateway cities that combine strong origin-and-destination traffic with robust connecting opportunities onward into Asia.

The carrier already links Incheon with Bangkok, Da Nang, Hong Kong and Tokyo Narita, among other points, and the new Dulles service will feed those Asian routes for travelers originating in the U.S. capital region.

Washington Dulles will be the airline’s second destination on the U.S. East Coast, after its earlier move into the New York metropolitan market.

The carrier positions itself between full-service incumbents and ultra-low-cost operators, using widebody aircraft with relatively spacious seating and a simplified product to keep fares competitive while retaining comfort as a key selling point.

For the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Air Premia’s arrival supports a broader push to restore and grow Asian long-haul connectivity from the region.

Local airport officials have highlighted the new flights as a significant win for Dulles, predicting tens of millions of dollars in annual economic impact from inbound tourism, trade, and business travel linked to the new service.

Why Washington D.C. Is a Strategic Prize

Washington, D.C. is one of the most globally connected capitals in the world, home to the U.S. federal government, major multilateral institutions, international financial organizations, foreign embassies and think tanks.

This dense concentration of government, diplomatic, and policy activity creates a stable base of premium and economy demand that is less vulnerable to seasonal swings than purely leisure markets.

South Korea maintains deep political, security and economic ties with the United States, and the Washington region hosts a sizable Korean diaspora community.

Official Korean government transport statistics show that more than 175,000 passengers traveled between the Seoul and Washington markets in 2024, with strong figures continuing through 2025.

Yet until now, nonstop options have remained limited, forcing many travelers to rely on connections through other U.S. hubs or via partner airlines.

For corporate travelers, government officials, scholars and NGO staff moving between Seoul and Washington, the new Air Premia service offers a time-saving alternative to one-stop itineraries.

The morning arrival at Dulles is timed to allow same-day onward domestic connections and meetings in downtown Washington, while the afternoon departure gives travelers a full final morning in the capital before heading to the airport.

The Washington area is also a growing tourism destination for Korean leisure travelers, who are drawn to its museums, monuments and easy access to nearby cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.

Conversely, U.S. residents in the capital region gain a new nonstop link to Seoul’s vibrant urban landscape, as well as streamlined access to connecting flights to other parts of East and Southeast Asia via Incheon, one of the region’s leading transfer hubs.

First New Korean Carrier to Washington in Three Decades

When Air Premia’s first Seoul–Washington flight touches down at Dulles in April 2026, it will mark the first time in 31 years that a Korean airline has inaugurated a new route to the U.S. capital.

The last such launch was in 1995, meaning Air Premia is breaking a decades-long pause in fresh Korean entrants to this key transpacific market.

The carrier will join established incumbent Korean Air, which already serves the route, bringing a second South Korean flag to Washington’s long-haul departure boards.

Aviation analysts say the additional capacity is expected to stimulate demand, broaden fare options and increase competition on pricing and schedules, particularly for travelers paying out of pocket rather than on corporate contracts.

Air Premia’s hybrid model is central to its differentiation. The airline emphasizes a generous wide premium economy product as its flagship cabin instead of a traditional business class, paired with a standard economy cabin.

This structure is designed to appeal to passengers who want more space and amenities than a typical economy seat but do not require, or cannot justify, the cost of a full flat-bed premium product.

The significance of a new Korean carrier entering the Washington market goes beyond pure capacity metrics.

It signals growing confidence in the health of transpacific demand, the resilience of U.S.–Korea travel ties after the pandemic, and the willingness of newer airlines to challenge incumbents on key trunk routes historically dominated by global network carriers and alliance partners.

Passenger Experience and Onboard Product

While Air Premia promotes itself as a cost-efficient operator, its passenger experience is positioned above that of classic low-cost competitors.

The Boeing 787-9 fleet used on the Washington route is fitted with wide premium economy seats that offer enhanced legroom, greater recline and upgraded service relative to standard economy.

This product is aimed at long-haul travelers seeking comfort on overnight and ultra-long sectors without paying business class prices.

Economy passengers can expect a contemporary widebody cabin with personal in-flight entertainment screens, on-demand content and power outlets, along with complimentary meals appropriate for a long-haul international service.

The airline leans on the 787’s lower cabin altitude and improved humidity levels as a selling point for reduced fatigue on flights that stretch beyond 13 hours in each direction.

Schedule design also plays into the broader passenger experience. The morning arrival into Dulles aligns with daytime body rhythms for many travelers, which can help mitigate jet lag.

Similarly, the midafternoon departure from Washington allows for a more relaxed transfer to the airport and enables connections in Seoul that arrive across Asia in the morning or midday, depending on the onward destination.

On the ground, passengers using the new route will be able to connect through Incheon’s extensive network of Asian destinations on Air Premia and its interline partners, while Washington Dulles offers links to dozens of U.S. cities and select international points via other carriers.

That hub-to-hub structure allows the airline to tap both point-to-point demand and connecting traffic on either side of the Pacific.

Economic and Competitive Implications

Airport officials and local tourism authorities expect the new Seoul–Washington route to drive incremental visitor arrivals, cargo flows and business exchanges between the two countries.

Forecasts from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority suggest that the service could generate more than 50 million dollars in annual regional economic impact, once tourism spending, hospitality revenue and induced employment are taken into account.

On the competitive front, Air Premia’s 4 weekly frequencies will supplement, rather than replace, existing capacity from incumbent carriers. Industry watchers anticipate that fare levels, especially in economy and premium economy, may become more competitive as airlines adjust pricing structures in response to the additional seats.

This is particularly relevant for price-sensitive segments such as students, visiting friends and relatives, and small-business travelers.

For Air Premia, securing a foothold in the Washington market is part of a wider North American strategy built around carefully selected high-demand gateways rather than a sprawling route map.

By focusing on a small number of transpacific city pairs with proven traffic volumes and limited nonstop competition, the airline aims to achieve sustainable load factors while maintaining the cost advantages of operating a uniform Boeing 787-9 fleet.

The route’s launch also aligns with broader trends in long-haul aviation, where newer entrants and boutique carriers are increasingly targeting secondary or under-served city pairs that were once considered the exclusive territory of global network airlines.

If successful, Air Premia’s Washington service could serve as a template for future expansion to other politically or economically significant U.S. metros.

Fares, Promotions and Booking Outlook

Air Premia has already begun signaling its commercial approach to the new route through promotional activity in the U.S. market.

A year-end sale announced in December 2025 included discounted round-trip fares originating in several American cities, with Washington, D.C. featured among the participating routes for travel after the April 24, 2026 launch date.

According to promotional material, economy class fares on U.S.–Korea routes during the sale period started in the mid-900 dollar range from West Coast gateways, with Washington pricing somewhat higher in line with the longer sector length and demand profile.

Premium economy tickets, branded as the airline’s wide premium class, were offered at higher entry levels that still undercut traditional business class on many rival carriers.

The inclusion of the not-yet-flown Washington route in these early promotions suggests that Air Premia is keen to build awareness and stimulate bookings well ahead of launch.

With ticket sales open from mid-December 2025, early adopters in both markets can secure introductory fares for travel throughout the Northern summer and into the autumn of 2026, subject to seat availability.

Travel agents and corporate travel managers are expected to watch booking trends closely as the route approaches its start date.

Given the mix of government, corporate and leisure demand in the Washington corridor, capacity management and revenue optimization on the new flights will be key to the airline’s long-term success on this flagship transpacific link.

FAQ

Q1. When does Air Premia’s Incheon–Washington D.C. service begin?
The airline plans to launch the new nonstop route on April 24, 2026, operating year-round subject to final regulatory approvals.

Q2. How often will Air Premia fly between Seoul and Washington?
Air Premia will operate four weekly flights between Incheon and Washington Dulles on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Q3. What are the scheduled flight times on the new route?
From Seoul, flight YP135 is scheduled to depart Incheon at 10:05 a.m. and arrive at Washington Dulles at 10:50 a.m. local time. The return flight, YP136, is set to leave Dulles at 1:20 p.m. and arrive in Incheon at 5:45 p.m. the following day.

Q4. Which aircraft will Air Premia use on the Incheon–Washington route?
The airline will deploy Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft configured with around 320 seats in a mix of wide premium economy and standard economy cabins.

Q5. Is this Air Premia’s first route to the U.S.?
No. The Washington D.C. service will be Air Premia’s fourth mainland U.S. route, joining existing flights to Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, as well as service to Honolulu.

Q6. Why is the new route significant for Washington D.C.?
The launch makes Air Premia the first Korean carrier in 31 years to inaugurate a new service to Washington, reflecting strong and growing travel demand between the U.S. capital region and South Korea.

Q7. Who is expected to benefit most from the new flights?
The route is designed to serve a mix of travelers, including government officials, diplomats, business passengers, members of the Korean diaspora, students and tourists moving between the Seoul and Washington regions.

Q8. How does Air Premia’s product differ from traditional airlines?
Air Premia positions itself as a hybrid carrier, offering an upgraded wide premium economy cabin and a modern economy class on long-haul routes while seeking to maintain lower operating costs and competitive fares compared with full-service competitors.

Q9. Can passengers connect beyond Seoul and Washington on this route?
Yes. Travelers can connect via Incheon to other destinations in Asia on Air Premia and partner airlines, while Washington Dulles offers onward links to numerous U.S. cities and select international points on other carriers.

Q10. When can travelers start booking tickets for the new service?
Air Premia has indicated that ticket sales for the Incheon–Washington Dulles route will open on December 15, 2025, with promotional fares available on select dates and limited seat inventory.