Korean Air launches new Houston-Seoul service

HOUSTON – Korean Air is set to launch new nonstop service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Seoul, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport. The new service will start May 2. Korean Air will fly the Houston-Seoul route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The new route will make Houston the international carrier’s 14th destination in the Americas and second in Texas.

A direct flight to Korea would be an economic boon to Houston, according to Suk-Bum Park, the Korean consul general in Houston. "More people will visit here and Korea. And, from a business prospective, it will create a huge push for creating new business in Houston and Korea," he said.

South Korea is already a hub for large-scale construction projects for the oil and gas and maritime industries. These construction companies and Houston energy companies would benefit from a better connection, said Park.

In January 2014, Air China announced that it would increase its Houston-Beijing service to daily flights. “Our economist estimates show there will be $150 million to $200 million a year of incremental benefits to Houston (because of the new Air China flight),” said Mario Diaz, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System. “And beyond that, there will be even more real estate transactions taking place.”