Skyteam members Korean Air and Delta Air Lines are all set to introduce a slew of new reciprocal benefits “beginning soon”, as part of their new joint venture partnership, which launched this week following final approval by the US Department of Transportation and the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Under the partnership, the two airlines will offer full reciprocal codesharing across each other’s networks, providing travellers with access to more than 290 destinations in the Americas and more than 80 in Asia.
Importantly for members of Korean Air’s Skypass and Delta’s Skymiles frequent-flyer programmes, the partnership will also include “improved reciprocal loyalty programme benefits” according to a joint release from both carriers. Notably, the airlines’ full codesharing reciprocity provides new avenues for accruing miles.
Schedules also will be optimised to provide more efficient transit times, something already seen with the two airlines’ relocation in January to Incheon Airport’s new Terminal 2 building.
“This partnership will bring more comfort to customers flying between Asia and the Americas,” said Yang Ho Cho, Korean Air chairman and CEO. “With the recent relocation to Terminal 2 at Incheon Airport alongside with Delta, we will be able to provide seamless service to our customers.”
In February this year, Korean Air also set up dedicated counters at Incheon Airport for US- and Guam-bound travellers, following the implementation of heightened security measures by the US government.
Delta, meanwhile, has been focusing its attention on Seoul’s Incheon Airport as a major gateway into the rest of Asia-Pacific. Last summer, the airline launched a new route between its hub in Atlanta and Seoul. As of last month, this route is now flown by the airline’s newest aircraft, the Airbus A350-900, following its deployment on the carrier’s Detroit-Seoul service in November 2017.
