Parata Air took its first step toward U.S. routes by filing an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on October 23, 2025, according to Regulations.gov. The new Korean low-cost carrier (LCC) requested a foreign air carrier permit and related exemptions to begin operations on March 29, 2026, between Korea and the United States.
According to the filing, Parata Air plans to deploy two Airbus A330-200 aircraft starting next spring, offering flights on the Incheon–Las Vegas and Incheon–Los Angeles routes.
The airline reemerged as a wholly owned subsidiary of Winix following the 2024 bankruptcy of Fly Gangwon. It obtained a new Air Operator Certificate (AOC) on September 8, 2025, and launched commercial service on September 30, 2025.
Currently, the carrier operates two domestic routes—Jeju–Seoul (Gimpo) and Jeju–Yangyang—and plans to expand to Japan and Vietnam next year.
Data from OAG Schedule Analyzer show that the Los Angeles route is currently served by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines with 14 weekly flights each, and by Air Premia with nine weekly flights. Korean Air also operates daily on the Las Vegas route.
If approved, Parata Air U.S. routes would intensify competition on both corridors.
An airline industry official said, “Although the carrier has applied to the DOT, it still needs route approval from Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and must complete slot and operations negotiations with airports. Finishing these steps by next March will be difficult.”
BY EUNYOUNG LEE [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
