Korean Air marks 30th anniversary of Washington route with special event

This photo shows company representatives and members of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the airline's Washington, D.C., route at Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 28. Courtesy of Korean Air

Korean Air, Korea's leading air carrier, said Monday it has celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Washington, D.C., route with a commemorative event held at Dulles International Airport in the U.S. capital.

To mark the milestone, the airline offered a complimentary round-trip ticket from Washington to Incheon to the 30th passenger checking in for flight KE094 on Friday. All passengers on the flight also received special anniversary gifts.

Korean Air launched its Washington, D.C., route in July 1995, initially as a one-stop flight via New York before converting it to a direct route in 1999. The direct connection has since played a key role in strengthening political, economic and cultural ties between Korea and the United States, the company said.

Since 2008, the airline has been the only Korean carrier operating a daily nonstop flight between Incheon and Washington.

"Washington, D.C., together with New York and Los Angeles, is one of the key pillars of our U.S. network, serving as a vital hub for premium, diplomatic and business travel," said Lee Jin-ho Lee, senior vice president and head of the Americas regional headquarters at Korean Air. "We remain committed to delivering world-class services for our customers."