As expected, Air Premia (YP, Seoul Incheon) has initiated plans to commence a 3x weekly service linking Seoul Incheon and Los Angeles International. The flights will start on October 5, and from October 17 they will rise to 5x weekly, ch-aviation schedule analysis has revealed.

A self-proclaimed hybrid long-haul carrier, Air Premia is a start-up whose route plans were disrupted by the protracted effects of the pandemic and whose fleet plans were stalled by delays in Boeing’s supply and assembly chains.

However, in January 2022 it revealed it was planning to launch a passenger route to LA in May, and then in May it said that the route would launch in July.

According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Air Premia currently operates a single B787-9 but has four more of the type to be delivered. Despite recent rumours of a clash between shareholders, it has raised billions of won in investment in preparation for the launch of its long-haul network.

According to the ch-aviation capacities module, both Asiana Airlines and Korean Air already operate passenger and cargo flights between Seoul and Los Angeles. Air Premia said it hopes to compete with the two full-service carriers on price, claiming its fares are 10-15% cheaper than existing airlines, as it predominantly targets the US West Coast’s sizeable Korean community.