Seoul, Korea (September 25, 2008) – Korean Air launches new, nonstop flights between Seoul and Israel’s Tel Aviv today.

Korean Air will operate Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday flights between Seoul (Incheon International Airport) and Tel Aviv using a Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft, seating 280 passengers in a two class configuration (Prestige, Economy).

Korean Air representatives and Yigal B. Caspi Ambassador of Israel to Korea were present at the inauguration flight ceremony at Incheon International Airport today to congratulate the new connection between the two countries.

“As a prime connector between the representative cities, the non-stop services from Tel Aviv to Seoul will greatly enhance the economic, cultural and tourism activities between the two countries.” said Jong-Hee Lee, Korean Air President and COO at the ceremony.

“And we hopefully expect the direct services will further strengthen the friendly relationship between the two countries,” Lee added.

Flight KE957 departs Seoul at 4:45pm to arrive at Tel Aviv at 10:15pm the same day. The return flight KE958 takes off from Tel Aviv at 11:55pm and comes back to Seoul at 4:15pm the next day.

Tel Aviv is Israel’s economic hub, home of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and many corporate offices and R&D centers. It is also the gateway to many pilgrimage sites including Jerusalem.

Korean Air has formerly operated to Tel Aviv from November 1995 to February 1998, when it suspended the route following the 1997 Asian fiancial crisis.