Korean Air Celebrates 45th Anniversary of New York Service, Transported 420,000 Passengers

by Lee Minwoo

Published 01 Apr.2024 08:53(KST)

Korean Air Holds Commemorative Event in New York

Korean Air held a commemorative event celebrating the 45th anniversary of its New York route.

Korean Air announced on the 1st that it held the event on the 29th of last month (local time) at New York JFK International Airport.

Previously, Korean Air launched its first regular passenger flight on the Seoul-New York route on March 29, 1979. Initially, the New York route operated three times a week, but from 1986 it increased to 10 times a week, and currently operates 14 times weekly. As of 2023, the total number of passengers reached 417,920, making it the second busiest route to the Americas. Large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8i are deployed on the New York route.

As part of the commemorative event, Korean Air presented a round-trip Prestige class ticket for the Incheon-New York route to the 45th passenger to check in for Korean Air flight KE082 bound for Incheon that day.

Kim Ji-hyun, who received the ticket, said, "I was so surprised by this unexpected luck," and added, "I have used Korean Air all my life, and I plan to continue using it."

Additionally, Korean Air gave an eco bag, created in collaboration with the Korean American Artists Association (KANA), to all passengers on flight KE082 in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the New York route.

On the afternoon of the 4th, a commemorative event will also be held in Manhattan, New York, attended by Lee Jin-ho, head of Korean Air's Americas Regional Headquarters, local key figures, and agency representatives.

Korean Air held a ceremony on the morning of March 29 (local time) at New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport to celebrate the 45th anniversary of its New York route. Kim Ji-hyun (center), the 45th passenger to check in for Korean Air flight KE082 to Incheon, who won a round-trip Prestige class ticket between Incheon and New York as a prize, is taking a commemorative photo with Korean Air officials. (Photo by Korean Air)