Korean Air will significantly enhance its passenger flights from Seoul Incheon to Atlanta, increasing the service to double daily starting on May 11, 2024. This expansion reflects the airline’s commitment to the popular route, following the retirement of the Boeing 747-8i from the route. The decision aligns with Korean Air’s strategic partnership with Delta Air Lines, allowing both carriers to strengthen their presence at Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport for passenger traffic.
Currently, Korean Air operates daily flights to Atlanta, but this frequency will increase to 11 weekly flights beginning on March 29, 2024, in line with the northern hemisphere’s aviation summer season. The service will then reach its peak with 14 weekly flights from May 11, catering to heightened demand during the summer months. The airline will utilize the Boeing 777-300ER, which features a capacity of 277 seats divided into first class, business class, and economy.
The introduction of double daily flights represents a 51% increase in the number of available seats for passengers between Atlanta and Seoul. Delta Air Lines also operates double daily services on this route, creating a record total of four daily flights between the two cities. This surpasses the previous high of three daily flights.
Details of the Expanded Flight Schedule
The anticipated flight schedule for June 2026 highlights the coordinated efforts between the two airlines. Korean Air will offer flights at various times throughout the day, including departures from Atlanta at 08:45 and 11:45, and from Seoul at 09:45 and 11:40. Delta’s contributions will complement Korean Air’s schedule with its own set of daily flights.
The expansion comes as Korean Air seeks to tap into the growing demand for air travel between the United States and South Korea. Since 1994, the airline has maintained passenger services to Atlanta, evolving from one-stop flights through cities like Chicago and Dallas to nonstop services in the early 2000s.
Market Dynamics and Passenger Trends
Data from the US Department of Transportation shows that Korean Air transported 224,500 passengers to and from Atlanta in the 12 months leading to July 2025, achieving an impressive 86% seat load factor. In comparison, Delta carried 352,700 passengers on this route with an 85% load factor. Notably, about 20% of Korean Air’s passengers connected to other flights in Seoul, with popular destinations including Ho Chi Minh City, Pusan, Manila, Beijing, and Bangkok.
The local market, comprising passengers traveling solely between Atlanta and Seoul, accounted for another 22% of Korean Air’s traffic. The airline’s connections through Seoul to Delta flights also make up a significant portion of its customer base. These integrated services highlight the importance of the Atlanta-Seoul route in the broader context of international travel.
As Korean Air prepares for its dual daily operations, the partnership with Delta and the focus on the Atlanta hub further solidify the airline’s strategy to enhance its presence in the lucrative North American market.
