Korean Air Launches Service to Houston
February 5, 2014

HOUSTON, TX – Korean Air, America’s largest Asian airline, is launching nonstop service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul, beginning in May 2014.

The inaugural flight will take place on May 2, with service aboard a B777-200 aircraft.  Nonstop flights connecting the two destinations will depart from the Terminal D facility at Bush Intercontinental Airport every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

“We’re very bullish on the Americas,” says John Jackson, the airline’s vice president of marketing for North and South America.  “Houston is the fourth largest metro area in the U.S. with a very strong travel market to Asia.  We’ve decided to earn our fair share of the market with a highly competitive product and service that’s hard to beat.”

Houston Mayor Annise Parker agrees with Jackson’s assessment and says that the route represents an exceptional business opportunity for the Korean Air team.

"Houston's dynamic economy and diverse population continue to strengthen its position on the world stage," says Houston Mayor Annise Parker.  "This new nonstop flight to Seoul is an excellent example of Houston's enhanced status as a gateway city and key player in the global marketplace."

Once the new flight is in service, Korean Air will be offering nonstop air service to two Texas destinations.

“We see continued opportunities in the Americas through our own efforts and through our membership in the SkyTeam alliance.  And we’ll add more capacity in a variety of other U.S. markets during the upcoming spring and summer seasons,” Jackson said.

Houston represents Korean Air’s 14th gateway in the Americas.  Others include Atlanta,Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver and Washington, D.C.

"The economic and cultural ties that exist between the City of Houston and Korea continue to grow stronger in the 21st century," says Houston Aviation Director, Mario Diaz.  "Korean Air recognizes the potential that lies within this growing relationship and the Houston Airport System looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership."

Korean Air is known for its elegant inflight service and cutting edge entertainment systems.   The airline’s Prestige (Business) and First class both feature full flat sleeper seats and award-winning cuisine.  Wine lists include premium vintages from the U.S. and Europe.

About Korean Air

Korean Air, established in 1969, is one of the world's top 20 airlines and carried more than 24 million passengers in 2012. Korean Air operates in excess of 200 flights per day to 126 cities in 45 countries on six continents with a fleet of 156 aircraft including eight A380s.

With its modern airplanes and over 20,000 professional employees, Korean Air offers customers with safety, convenience and comfort. Korean air’s award-winning cuisine of Korean and Western meals and state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system provide passengers ultimate satisfaction.

The airline serves six continents with more than 1,400 flights a week and is also a founding member of the Sky Team airline alliance which together with its 19 members, offers its 569 million annual passengers a worldwide system of more than 15,000 daily flights covering 993 destinations in 178 countries.

Korean Air introduced the double-decker A380 aircraft to its fleet in 2011 and made the interior more spacious than any other airline, with just 407 seats spread across three classes, with the top deck dedicated to ‘Prestige’ business class. The design also features the world’s first onboard ‘Duty Free Showcase’ and three bars and lounges.

More on Korean Air's programs, routes, frequencies and partners is available at koreanair.com.

About the Houston Airport System

The Houston Airport System (HAS) served more than 50 million passengers in 2013.  HAS consists of three individual airports, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ellington Airport (EFD).  Collectively, the three facilities contribute $27.5 billion to the regional economy.  Visit fly2houston.com for more information and follow us @HobbyAirport and @IAH.