South Korean hybrid airline Air Premia will start flying between Seoul Incheon and San Francisco in May 2024. The launch will bring the airline’s US network back to three destinations.
Continue to learn more.
Air Premia’s Upcoming Seoul – San Francisco Route
According to AeroRoutes, Air Premia filed schedule for a new Seoul Incheon – San Francisco route. Based on the filing, the airline will launch the route on May 17, 2024, and from then on will operate the flights four times a week with the following schedule:
- YP111 / Seoul Incheon – San Francisco / 5:30PM – 12:30PM / Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
- YL112 / San Francisco – Seoul Incheon / 3:00PM – 7:50PM+1/ Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
The flights cannot be booked yet.
The route will be operated by the sole aircraft type in Air Premia’s fleet, Boeing 787-9.
Air Premia’s 787s come in two different configurations, one seating a total of 309 and the other a total of 338 passengers. Both of the configurations have a total of 56 premium economy class seats in a 2-3-2 layout, while in economy class they have 253 and 282 seats in a 3-3-3 layout respectively.
Multiple full-service carriers already operate the Seoul Incheon – San Francisco route. SkyTeam member Korean Air flies to San Francisco at least once a day. Star Alliance members Asiana Airlines and United Airlines each serve the route daily.
Air Premia’s Presence in the US
Currently, Air Premia serves three destinations in the US: Los Angeles, Newark, and Honolulu.
Los Angeles, launched in October 2022, was the airline’s first destination in the US. Air Premia currently operates the flights six times a week but is planning to increase the frequency to daily starting from May 16, 2024. The airline competes with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines on the route, both of which operate double daily flights.
The Newark route was launched in May 2023 and is served four times a week. Air Premia is the only airline serving the route.
Lastly, Air Premia started flying to Honolulu at the end of December 2023. The route is expected to operate until March 4, 2024. Whether it will be operated next winter again remains to be seen. Air Premia serves the route alongside Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines.
Given that the Honolulu flights are not scheduled to operate beyond early March at this point, the Seoul Incheon – San Francisco launch will bring the number of Air Premia’s destinations in the US back to three after it briefly drops to two.
Summary
In May 2024, Air Premia will improve connectivity between Seoul and San Francisco by launching four weekly flights on the route already served by Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and United Airlines.
Once the route is launched, it will become Air Premia’s third destination in the United States. While the airline already serves three destinations in the country – Los Angeles, Newark, and Honolulu – it currently has no plans to operate the last of those beyond early March 2024.
Air Premia will use the 787-9 on the new route, offering passengers the choice between premium economy and economy class.
