Thank the great flight route maker in the sky. My trip to Brazil from Los Angeles was based on no direct flights out of Los Angeles, which added a good six hours and layover time in Miami to Brazil. So good news for Brazil fans in LA.
-Editor ITKT-
LOS ANGELES "“ LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce Korean Air is launching new, nonstop service starting today June 2, 2008 from Los Angeles to São Paulo, Brazil. KE061 will operate flights between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) using Boeing 777-200 aircraft. The aircraft has a seating capacity of 260 in three classes, including eight first-class sleeper seats, 27 lie-flat business-class seats and 225 economy-class seats.
"We are excited by the new service to São Paulo," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "The establishment of new international service from Los Angeles is a high priority for my Administration and a focus point of our promotional initiatives around the world as we work to revitalize LAX, expand operations at LA/Ontario International Airport and boost the Southern California economy." São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and the most populous city in South America. Korean Air is the only airline with nonstop service between Los Angeles and Brazil.
"The Mayor first met with Korean Airlines executives during his 2006 trade mission to Asia," said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of LA INC. "A primary objective of the Villaraigosa administration has been to capture LA's share of the growing international market. Led by Mayor Villaraigosa, LAWA and LA INC. have been working closely together to attract new international routes, thereby opening new markets for LA business." LA INC. projects 15 new or increased international routes between December 2007 and summer 2009; servicing both Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT).
"Korean Air’s nonstop flight between LAX and São Paulo is a key route for people who want to conduct business in the world’s second largest city," said John Jackson, Korean Air’s director of sales and marketing for the Americas. "Korean Air already offers the best options for travel to Asia, but we’re also a global airline that now provides the much needed passenger and cargo service between Los Angeles and São Paulo that no other company has the scope to do."
Asia is Los Angeles’ top regional trading partner with more than 564,000 tons of air cargo valued at nearly $45 billion annually, while South Korea is the City’s fourth-largest overseas visitor market. Korean Air is the largest cargo carrier in the world and carries more air cargo at LAX than any other passenger airline. The airline also is the largest transpacific passenger carrier out of Los Angeles, and flies from more cities in the Americas to more cities in China than any other airline in the world. This new service provides an important air cargo connection between Asia and Brazil that will generate a significant economic impact on the Southern California economy.
LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau is a private, nonprofit agency dedicated to promoting Los Angeles as the premier destination for leisure travel, conventions and meetings. Though not part of city government, LA INC. is recognized as Los Angeles' official visitor promotion arm. To learn more, please visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com.
