Delta link with Korea approved

In a move hailed by the carriers as a significant milestone in the creation of a leading joint venture between the US and Asia, America’s Department of Transportation on Friday approved a formal partnership between Delta Air Lines and Korean Air.

Delta said the DOT decision “reflects the consumer benefits that will be created” by the trans-Pacific link-up, which would deepen their relationship and offer passengers an enhanced and expanded flight network and improved travel options. 

Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the joint venture would create a combined network of more than 290 destinations in the Americas and more than 80 in Asia, and provide both airlines with the expanded scale and scope to offer new alternatives to passengers. 

The airlines would share costs and revenues on flights covered by the agreement, while other benefits included co-location at key airports including Incheon Terminal 2, providing seamless connections and baggage handling.

In anticipation of the joint venture, Delta launched new non-stop Atlanta – Seoul flights earlier this year, complementing Korean Air’s existing service. The Asian carrier operates to 10 gateways in the US while Delta has three gateways from Seoul along with non-stop service to six other gateways in Asia. 

Delta has a 25-year track record of airline partnerships, beginning with the first successful trans-Atlantic link-up in 1993 between Northwest and KLM.

www.delta.com

www.koreanair.com

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