Regulator approves Delta-Korean Air joint venture alliance
Delta Air Lines has negotiated the final hurdle to starting a joint venture alliance with Korean Air.
The Korean regulator approved the JV application, opening the way for the airlines to start co-operating closer with anti-trust immunity.
The US department of transportation had already given its approval late last year.
The JV will offer passengers of both airlines seamless connections to 290 destinations in the Americas and up to 80 throughout Europe.
"We are delighted to announce the launch of our partnership with Delta. With the recent relocation to Terminal 2 at Incheon Airport alongside Delta, we will be able to provide seamless service to our customers. Korean Air will provide extensive support to develop a successful partnership with Delta," said Korean Air CEO Cho Yang Ho.
The two carriers already have an extensive codeshating arrangement covering hundreds of flights a week.
The alliance will allow them to combine schedules, share joint marketing costs and sales initiaves, and collaborate closer on their respective loyalty schemes.
"Our expanded partnership means a host of new destinations and travel options across Asia and North America, with seamless connectivity, world-class reliability and the industry’s best customer service," Delta CEO Ed Bastion said.
The US-Asia transpacific market is expected to grow accordingly as a result of the joint venture.
Delta and Korean Air have partnered closely for two decades and are both founding members of the SkyTeam global airline alliance.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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