"Korean Air Marks 30th Anniversary of Washington Route, Serving as a Korea-US Diplomatic Bridge"

The Only Korean Flag Carrier Operating a Direct Route

Korean Air announced on the 28th that it held a commemorative event at Washington Dulles International Airport on the 25th (local time) to mark the 30th anniversary of its Washington route. The event was attended by Lee Byunghoon, Korean Air's Eastern US Regional Director, Seok Inhak, Korean Air's Washington Airport Branch Manager, and officials from the local airport authorities.

Korean Air held a commemorative event at Washington Dulles International Airport on the 25th (local time) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its service to Washington, USA. Seok Inhak, Washington Airport Branch Manager (fourth from the right), and other key officials, along with representatives from the Washington airport authorities, are posing for a commemorative photo. Korean Air

On this day, one passenger who checked in as the 30th passenger for flight KE094 bound for Incheon was presented with one round-trip economy class ticket between Incheon and Washington. All passengers received commemorative gifts, including a specially designed travel pouch, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Washington route.

Korean Air launched its Washington route in July 1995. Initially, it was an indirect route operating between Seoul and Washington via New York, but since 1999, it has been changed to a direct route, serving as a bridge for economic, diplomatic, and cultural exchanges between Korea and the United States. Since 2008, Korean Air has been the only Korean flag carrier to operate daily round-trip direct flights, enhancing convenience for passengers traveling to and from the key hub of the US East Coast.

In particular, the Washington route has served as a reliable channel for air diplomacy whenever significant diplomatic events such as Korea-US summits, high-level diplomatic visits, and bilateral negotiations took place. Since the mid-1990s, as the Korean population in the Washington area increased, the route has also become an essential part of daily life for many Korean residents. Even during global aviation crises such as the 2008 financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Korean Air continued to operate the Washington route, contributing to ongoing exchanges and development between Korea and the United States.

A Korean Air representative stated, "Along with New York and Los Angeles, Washington serves as a key axis of Korean Air's North American network, and is regarded as a model route for securing premium demand and managing diplomatic and business travel. We will continue to meet the rising expectations of our customers by maintaining absolute safety and customer-centered service."