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Delta, Korean Air agree to launch transpacific JV | Airlines content from ATWOnline

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines and Seoul-based Korean Air have signed a memorandum of understanding to form an antitrust-immunized transpacific joint venture (JV).

The SkyTeam members intend “to create a fully integrated transpacific joint venture arrangement, with both airlines sharing the costs and revenues on flights and coordinating schedules for seamless, convenient connections,” Delta and Korean Air said in a joint statement.

The carriers’ combined network reaches 290 destinations in the Americas and more than 80 in Asia. The JV will enable Delta and Korean Air passengers to earn reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, the airlines said.

The carriers had indicated they were exploring an expanded partnership in September 2016 when Delta announced plans to launch daily Boeing 777-200LR flights between Atlanta and Seoul Incheon from June 3, 2017, and expand codesharing with Korean Air, which already operates daily Seoul Incheon-Atlanta 777-300ER flights.

“This agreement deepens our longstanding partnership with Korean Air and will provide the global access and seamless service our customers demand,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in a March 29 statement.

“This joint venture will benefit our customers by providing more convenient connection schedules and widen their opportunities in earning [frequent flyer benefits],” Korean Air chairman and CEO Yang Ho Cho said.

Once the final JV agreement is signed, “Delta and Korean Air will work together to implement all aspects of the enhanced cooperation, including expanded codesharing, frequent flyer programs and joint growth in the transpacific market, with co-location at key hubs [enabling] seamless passenger and baggage transit experience,” the airlines said.

The JV will need to gain regulatory approval, including antitrust immunity from the US Department of Transportation (DOT).

OldFlyGuy

The Japanese government threw us out of Narita and deliberately blocked us out of Haneda. Open skies in Japan: nonsense. Our government watched us get blatantly screwed and did nothing. DAL had to go to plan C. KAL and China Eastern and Seattle are plan C as I read the situation. OFG

Big E 757

And the rest of the world is criticizing President Trump's America first plans as protectionism.

sailingfun

They did not throw us out of Narita however they made it economically not viable.

BobZ

as a landlord Iv found the best alternative to directly throwing a tenant out......is to simply make it economically not viable for them to stay.

a rose, is a rose.....

gloopy

Fair enough. So we need to do the same to them.

gzsg

Korean

Plan E

Dustycrophopper

I think Seattle has less importance now, why fly to all these points when we will most likely just fly more into icn and then they will take people to the other places, just like we do for them here

ShyGuy

If you were a pilot in Japan, wouldn't you be ticked to see NWA/DAL doing for years all these flights from NRT to HKG/BKK/SIN/MNL/etc/etc. That's their country you are originating from and flying elsewhere (non-USA destinations) with passengers. And then ALPA turns around and moans about Emirates flying Newark to Athens and a level playing field.

Yes, post WWII consequences for Japan. Still, doesn't make it right all these decades later.

Hank Kingsley

You got a point, however, ME3 are allegedly dumping seats.