For travelers on the US East Coast, getting to South Korea has long meant you had to either live near New York, or make at least one connection. But that will change in spring 2026, when Washington, DC, will gain a direct link to Seoul on the growing Air Premia. It confirmed a new nonstop route between Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) beginning April 24, 2026.
Photo: Minh K Tran/Shutterstock
US East Coasters Are About to Get an Affordable Nonstop Flight to Seoul
Washington, DC, will be Air Premia’s fifth US destination, joining Los Angeles and San Francisco in California, as well as Newark, New Jersey, and Honolulu, Hawaii. When it launches, it will be one of the few airlines offering nonstop flights between Seoul, South Korea, and Washington, DC, joining a Korean Air/Delta Air Lines codeshare. The announcement underscores South Korea’s rising popularity as a tourism destination, with airline pundits and experts suggesting that DC was selected for its steady stream of leisure, business, and political/diplomatic travelers.
Washington, DC, also has an extensive South Korean population, with the DC, Maryland, Virginia (DMV) area having the third-largest Korean population in the US, outside of New York City and Los Angeles. Estimates suggest the new flight could spur approximately $50 million in annual spending in the DC region.
What is Air Premia?
Photo: Air Premia
Air Premia is a South Korea–based airline operating out of Seoul Incheon that follows what’s known as a “hybrid airline” model, sitting somewhere between budget carriers and full-service carriers. It keeps costs relatively low by doing away with premium products like business class, airport lounges, or a loyalty program, but still includes some amenities, such as checked bags, meals, and relatively roomy seats (by Economy class standards, at least).
The airline began flying in 2021 and focuses primarily on long-haul routes. Its entire fleet is Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with just two classes: Economy and “Wide Premium,” offering slightly more legroom. Most of its flights are between South Korea and the US, though it also flies to Tokyo Narita (NRT) in Japan, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) in Thailand, Da Nang (DAD) in Vietnam, and Hong Kong International (HKG) in Hong Kong.
How much will the new DC-to-Seoul flights cost?
Photo: Minh K Tran/Shutterstock
Air Premia hasn’t announced pricing for the new DC to Seoul direct flights. But based on its existing routes and hybrid model, it’s likely prices will be well above ultra-low basic airlines, but less expensive than legacy carriers like Emirates or Korean Air. Round-trip economy fares from Newark to Seoul and Los Angeles to Seoul usually fall in the $800 to $1,200 range, with occasional dips below $900 during slow seasons. Air Premia’s “Wide Premium” cabin, akin to Premium Economy on a US carrier, typically costs a few hundred more than standard economy. Unlike budget airlines, fares include checked baggage and meals, making the potentially sub-$1,000 round-trip pricing from DC to Seoul a relatively good price, especially if it continues into early summer 2026. 