Air Premia, a South Korean hybrid service carrier, has established an interline partnership with Southwest Airlines, marking the first time a Korean airline has entered such an agreement with the largest domestic U.S. carrier. The collaboration enables travelers to book seamless connections on a single ticket to more than 120 destinations within the Southwest network.
The new routing options facilitate connections through Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu. This structure allows passengers originating in South Korea to reach U.S. cities that currently lack direct nonstop flights from Korea, including Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Denver, Portland, and Nashville. Interline itineraries for these routes became available on July 8 through online booking platforms and travel agencies.
Under U.S. entry regulations, passengers arriving from South Korea who connect to another domestic destination must collect their checked luggage and clear customs at their initial point of entry. However, the partnership offers a convenience for those connecting from a Southwest domestic flight to an Air Premia international flight: these passengers can check their bags directly to their final destination, bypassing the need to retrieve and recheck luggage at the connection point.
Yoo Myung-sub, chief executive officer of Air Premia, stated that the airline is pleased to partner with Southwest to expand travel opportunities for customers. He noted that the agreement provides seamless access to the extensive Southwest network and expressed a desire to deliver greater value to travelers across the Pacific. Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines chief operating officer, described Air Premia as a partner that aligns with Southwest’s focus on combining value and comfort with high-quality service. He added that the partnership exposes more international markets to Southwest’s U.S. network while offering Southwest customers additional global travel options.
Southwest Airlines operates the largest domestic route network in the United States, serving destinations nationwide as well as 11 countries across North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Air Premia, which launched its first international service in July 2022, currently maintains interline partnerships with Korean Air, Thai Airways, and T'way Air. The airline positions itself as a long-haul specialist, offering premium services at competitive prices compared to full-service carriers.
