SkyTeam Alliance carrier Korean Air is celebrating thirty years of flying to San Francisco. The airline has notably served the California city with daily flights throughout its operation and provides a link between the two technology hubs.
30 Years of Korean Air
Korean Air officially commemorated the 30th anniversary of its San Francisco International Airport (SFO) route on October 29th. To celebrate three decades of connecting Korea and San Francisco and its commitment to both the Korean and international communities, the airline awarded a complimentary round-trip economy class ticket between San Francisco and Seoul Incheon to the 30th passenger checking in for Seoul Incheon-bound flight KE024.
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They were far from the only person to receive something special on the flight. The airline also gave each passenger on the flight special anniversary gifts, including a tote bag designed by the Korean Association of New York Artists and a selection of Ghirardelli chocolates, a favorite San Francisco delicacy. Jin Ho Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of the Americas Regional Headquarters at Korean Air, noted how significant the longstanding partnership has been to the community:
“On this significant occasion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our customers for their unwavering support over the past 30 years and for choosing Korean Air for their travels.
“We are excited to continue connecting Korea and San Francisco and providing our customers with exceptional services in the years to come.”
Photo: Korean Air
The airport celebrations will be followed by a special dinner in downtown San Francisco tonight, featuring representatives from Korean Air, the Korean Consulate, industry partners, key travel agencies, and local media.
Three decades of flights
Korean Air first launched flights to the City by the Bay on October 29th, 1994, with a regular passenger route from Gimpo Airport Airport (GMP) to San Francisco International Airport. The airline has maintained a schedule of at least seven flights per week since the route began (suspensions for COVID-19 aside). The link is vital to enhancing connections and economic exchange between Korea and the US West Coast, especially in the IT and semiconductor sectors, as it allows passengers from across Asia to access Silicon Valley.
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Korean Air currently operates the route using a Boeing 777-300ER. Last year, the route carried around 176,000 passengers, making it Korean Air’s second most popular route on the US West Coast after Los Angeles.
Photo: Sundry Photography | Shutterstock
The South Korean flag carrier faces significant competition on the route. Asiana (which is set to merge with Korean Air) links the city to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) daily using an Airbus A350-900. Home carrier United Airlines links the two cities twice daily using a mix of Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. Hybrid carrier Air Premia also flies from ICN to SFO using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner this month, based on airline scheduling data from Cirium.