What Air Premia does

Air Premia is a South Korean hybrid airline incorporated in 2017 and headquartered in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, operating scheduled international passenger and cargo services from a fleet of nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The carrier bridges the budget and full-service segments with a two-class product: a 56-seat Wide Premium cabin (42-inch pitch, 20-inch width, complimentary meals and beverages including alcohol, priority services) and a 253-seat Economy cabin (35-inch pitch), supported by a Boeing 787-9 cabin environment (6,000 ft equivalent cabin pressure, 15-16% humidity, 60% takeoff/landing noise reduction) that materially improves long-haul comfort relative to typical economy.

The route network spans 11 stations across North America (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newark, Honolulu, Washington Dulles), Northeast Asia (Tokyo/Narita, Hong Kong), and Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Da Nang), with the Washington Dulles service launched April 24, 2026 marking the first new Korean-carrier DC service in 31 years. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via airpremia.com, a mobile app, and a Korean-language call center (1800-2626), with no disclosed third-party OTA dependency. Ancillary revenue streams include pre-purchased baggage (KRW 60,000 per 23 kg), advance seat selection (KRW 10,000-30,000), airport-side seat purchases (KRW 20,000-100,000 by region), pet transport, in-flight Air Premia Shop duty-free sales, and the Premia Members loyalty program (BLUE/GOLD/DIAMOND tiers with 0.7%-1.5% earn rates).

Cargo is operated under the Air Premia Cargo sub-brand with a 2025 interline agreement with Amazon Air Cargo for transpacific belly-hold service from Incheon to Honolulu, feeding approximately 45 US mainland cities via Hawaiian Airlines (Aloha Express) at an estimated 20% cost/transit reduction. Operational maintenance is covered by a 10-year Lufthansa Technik Shenzhen Total Component Support agreement covering the entire nine-aircraft fleet. The business is privately held; Tire Bank Group acquired a controlling stake in May 2025, and the company completed a March 2026 capital reduction (par value 500 KRW → 100 KRW) and 9-for-5 reverse split to absorb accumulated losses. Air Premia is currently exposed to material headwinds from a 2.5x jet fuel price surge and is among Korean LCCs cited as at risk of operating license revocation.

Name

Air Premia

Legal name

에어프레미아 주식회사 (Air Premia Inc.)

Website

https://airpremia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Air Premia is a South Korean hybrid airline operating a nine-aircraft Boeing 787-9 fleet on long-haul international routes from Incheon to North America, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia, serving cost-conscious travelers seeking premium-economy features at LCC fares.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Air Transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Scheduled Air Transportation (4811), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated) (THABAAAF)

Keywords

• International passenger flights
• Air cargo services
• Premium economy class
• Frequent flyer program
• Scheduled airline services

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Core revenue from international passenger airfares across Wide Premium and Economy cabins on routes to North America, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia. Revenue varies by fare class (Light, Standard, Flex) and route.
2. Ancillary Services: Revenue from pre-booked baggage, seat selection (including exit row and front seats), pet transport, special meals, and airport services. Side seat purchase available at airport for extra comfort.
3. In-flight Sales: Onboard sales through Air Premia Shop including meals, beverages, beer (Beer Premia), duty-free products, and merchandise. Wide Premium passengers receive complimentary meals and beverages; Economy passengers purchase items or select pre-paid options.
4. Cargo Services: Air Premia Cargo division handling freight transport, including Amazon Air Cargo interline partnership for transpacific routes feeding into US mainland via Honolulu hub.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Air Premia is a South Korean hybrid airline operating scheduled international passenger and cargo services between Incheon International Airport and destinations in North America, Southeast Asia, and Northeast Asia. The airline offers two cabin classes—Wide Premium (premium economy with 42-inch seat pitch) and Economy—on a fleet of nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, combined with ancillary services such as in-flight duty-free shopping, baggage handling, and a tiered loyalty program.

Product overview

Air Premia is a South Korean hybrid airline operating scheduled international passenger and cargo services. The company positions itself between budget and full-service carriers, offering competitive fares with enhanced service elements. The product portfolio centers on Air Premia's passenger airline service utilizing a fleet of nine Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft featuring two cabin classes: Wide Premium (56 seats with 42-inch pitch, complimentary meals/beverages, priority services) and Economy (253 seats with 35-inch pitch). Ancillary offerings include Premia Members loyalty program with point accumulation/redemption and three tiers (BLUE/GOLD/DIAMOND), Air Premia Shop for in-flight duty-free merchandise, pre-purchased baggage, advance seat selection, adjacent seat purchase, pet transport, and special meal accommodations. Cargo services are offered under Air Premia Cargo utilizing aircraft belly capacity. The airline operates routes to North America (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu, Washington Dulles), Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Da Nang), and Northeast Asia (Tokyo/Narita, Hong Kong).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Air Premia Cargo: Cargo services division of Air Premia for air freight transportation

Products and services

• Air Premia Passenger Airline Service Scheduled international passenger air service between Incheon and destinations in North America (Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York/Newark, Honolulu, Washington Dulles), Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Da Nang), and Northeast Asia (Tokyo/Narita, Hong Kong). Targets leisure and business travelers seeking a premium-like experience at competitive fares.
• Air Premia Cargo Freight cargo service utilizing the belly capacity of Air Premia's Boeing 787-9 fleet, including interline partnerships such as the Amazon Air Cargo transpacific route. Serves shippers needing air freight between Asia and North America.
• Air Premia Shop (In-flight Duty-Free) In-flight duty-free shopping service offering wine, beer, snacks, meals, and branded merchandise for purchase during flights. Available to all passengers; Wide Premium passengers receive complimentary meals and beverages.
• Premia Members Loyalty Program Frequent flyer loyalty program with three tiers (BLUE, GOLD, DIAMOND) offering point accumulation on fares (0.7% base rate, 70–120% depending on fare class, plus 60–115% tier bonuses), point redemption for award tickets, and tier-specific priority benefits. Points valid 3 years from travel date.
• Wide Premium Cabin Class Premium cabin class with 56 seats per aircraft featuring 42-inch seat pitch, 20-inch seat width, complimentary meals and beverages including alcohol, amenity kits on long-haul routes, dedicated check-in counter, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling. Sold as a fare class (Light, Standard, Flex) within the international passenger offering.
• Economy Cabin Class Standard economy cabin with 253 seats per aircraft featuring 35-inch seat pitch and 18-inch seat width. Includes complimentary water and coffee; meals and additional beverages available for purchase or via pre-paid selection on certain routes.
• Pet Transport Service Pet transport service for dogs, cats, and birds requiring advance reservation 48 hours before departure. Maximum weight including carrier is up to 32kg for certain routes; service animals for disabled passengers transported free of charge.
• Wide Premium Meal Service In-flight meal service for Wide Premium passengers (complimentary) and Economy passengers (purchase or pre-paid), including Korean bibimbap, Western options, and special dietary meals (infant, children's, diabetic, strict vegetarian, seafood, fruit).

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of customers want to fly Air Premia again
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Thai AirwayscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Interline partnership effective March 30, 2026, expanding connectivity across Southeast Asia, India, and the Americas. Enables joint ticketing and seamless travel for passengers via shared networks, linking Air Premia's US routes with Thai Airways' extensive regional network. Streamlines passenger flows and reduces travel times through regional hubs.
• Lufthansa Technik ShenzhencoreTechnology or Integration · 1 August 202510-year agreement for comprehensive airframe component maintenance services for Air Premia's fleet of nine Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Covers MRO, modification, and spare support including lease and exchange solutions through Lufthansa Technik's global network. Builds on existing Total Component Support agreement that began in August 2024.
• Amazon Air CargocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025Interline cargo agreement launching transpacific route from Incheon to Honolulu (Aloha Express service) feeding into approximately 45 US mainland cities via Hawaiian Airlines. Reduces costs and transit times by approximately 20% for cargo shipments. Benefits from South Korea's retention of US de minimis exemption for shipments under $800 until July 2027.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Air Busan: Korean LCC affiliated with Asiana, also part of the Q2 2026 combined-loss group. Competes with Air Premia on Korean outbound international routes.
• Zipair Tokyo: Japan-based long-haul LCC subsidiary of JAL using Boeing 787s. Closest analogue to Air Premia's hybrid premium-economy positioning on a transpacific cost structure.
• Jin Air: Korean LCC subsidiary of Korean Air operating international routes. Direct competitor in the Korea-outbound market on both short-haul and long-haul segments.
• Jeju Air: Largest Korean LCC and named alongside Air Premia as facing operating license risk from fuel-driven losses. Comparable in business model with similar route exposure to North America and SE Asia.
• T'way Air: South Korean low-cost carrier also flagged for financial stress and flight reductions in 2026. Competes directly with Air Premia on international long-haul and regional routes from Incheon.
• Scoot: Singapore-based long-haul hybrid LCC subsidiary of Singapore Airlines operating 787 Dreamliners on Asia–Europe and Asia–US routes. Comparable product positioning and fleet type.

Emerging players

• Norse Atlantic Airways: Norwegian-headquartered low-cost long-haul carrier using Boeing 787s. Comparable low-cost long-haul economics and 787 operating profile.
• PLAY: Icelandic low-cost long-haul carrier using A321neo/A330 fleet. Relevant peer for the low-cost long-haul business model even though aircraft type and geography differ.

Broad incumbents

• Korean Air: Korean flag carrier dominating the transpacific and global long-haul market. Air Premia's Wide Premium directly competes with Korean Air's premium economy; relevant incumbent for benchmarking yields, safety evaluation, and slot/landing access.

Regional players

• Eastar Jet: Korean LCC focused on short-haul and Northeast Asia routes. Competes with Air Premia on overlapping regional city pairs and serves a similar cost-conscious Korean traveler segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AirPremia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/AIRPREMIA
• Facebookfacebook.com/airpremia
• Instagraminstagram.com/airpremia_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-premia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Air Premia