Air Premia, a South Korean hybrid carrier, has reported a significant surge in passenger numbers in 2024, solidifying its position as a leading long-haul airline.

The airline announced on [Date] that it transported 765,503 passengers on 2,783 flights last year, achieving an impressive load factor of 86.1% with its fleet of five aircraft.

Long-haul routes proved to be a major growth driver for Air Premia in 2024. The carrier's passenger traffic on long-haul routes increased by 8.6 percentage points year-on-year to 56%, surpassing short-haul traffic for the first time. This growth is attributed to the airline's strategic focus on long-haul destinations, including the launch of new services to San Francisco and increased capacity on transpacific routes.

Popular destinations included Los Angeles (182,400 passengers), New York (124,000 passengers), and Tokyo Narita (164,800 passengers).

In addition to its passenger business, Air Premia's cargo operations also experienced substantial growth. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport's aviation information portal, the airline transported a total of 37,422 tons of cargo in 2024, with net cargo (excluding baggage and mail) reaching 23,424 tons. This makes Air Premia the largest cargo carrier among South Korean airlines, excluding the two major full-service carriers and dedicated cargo airlines.

"2024 was a pivotal year for Air Premia as we firmly established ourselves as a specialized long-haul airline," said an Air Premia spokesperson. "Looking ahead, we plan to expand our network by introducing new routes in Asia and the Americas to offer our customers even more travel options."

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