New Route of the Day – Americas (24 April 2026): Air Premia between Seoul ICN and Washington IAD
South Korea’s Air Premia commenced flights between Seoul ICN and Washington IAD on Friday 24 April. The 11,200-kilometre service will be maintained 4-weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with the 320-seat 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The carrier will compete against daily Korean Air flights.
Flight YP135 departs Seoul ICN at 10:00 local time, arriving in Washington IAD at 10:50 local time. The return service, operating as flight YP136, takes off at 13:20 local time, touching back down in the South Korean capital at 17:50 local time the following afternoon.
What they said
Kwangeun Park, Chief Strategy Officer at Air Premia, said: “Today’s launch is more than just a new route; it’s a major milestone in our mission to connect the world. 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.”
Chryssa Westerlund, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of the Airports Authority, added: “We are celebrating this first launch of new service between Dulles and South Korea in more than 30 years. These new flights bring our region a strong premium economy option for travel between Washington and Seoul.”
First new Asia route in eight years for Washington IAD
Washington, D.C. is a prime market for Air Premia’s new service as it is one of the largest US markets from Seoul. The National Capital Region is home to the second-largest Korean-born population on the US East Coast. Seoul is the second-largest Asian demand market from the Washington, D.C. area after Delhi, India.
This new service is the first launched from Washington IAD to Asia since 2018.
Washington IAD becomes Air Premia’s fifth US destination and only the second one on the US East Coast. The launch is particularly significant as it marks the first additional Washington, D.C. route introduced by a Korean carrier in 31 years. It is also the longest in Air Premia’s network by flight distance.
