Delta Air Lines and Korean Air have agreed to reinforce their existing partnership, creating an expanded trans-Pacific network operated under a joint venture arrangement that gives Delta a bigger foothold in the booming Asian market.

Highlights of the agreement, subject to regulatory approvals, include:

- The intent to create a fully integrated trans-Pacific joint venture arrangement, with both airlines sharing the costs and revenues on flights and coordinating schedules for seamless, convenient connections.

- A combined network, serving more than 290 destinations in the Americas and more than 80 in Asia, providing customers of both airlines with more travel choices than ever before.

- Enhanced frequent flyer benefits, providing customers of both airlines the ability to earn and redeem miles on Delta’s SkyMiles and Korean Air’s SKYPASS programs.

Upon the signing of the final joint venture arrangement, the two carriers will work together to implement all aspects of the enhanced co-operation, including expanded codesharing, frequent flyer programmes and joint growth in the trans-Pacific market.

Delta will be launching new nonstop service between Atlanta and Seoul in June 2017, a flight that complements Korean Air’s existing service, providing customers in the U.S. with greater access to destinations across Asia. 

At the same time Korean Air will continue to expand its U.S. – Korea network in summer 2017 with the introduction of a third roundtrip between Los Angeles and Seoul, as well as a second flight between San Francisco and Seoul.

In parallel, Delta is also increasing its presence in China, thanks to its 3.2% stake in China Eastern.