South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
has approved the joint venture application of Korean Air and Delta.
The move follows similar approval given in November by the
U.S. Department of Transportation and paves the way for the two carriers to
begin jointly scheduling, marketing and operating flights between the U.S. and
South Korea.
The airlines did not specify when they would launch the
joint venture, though they said it will be this year.
The carriers are already codeshare partners, but they say
the joint venture will further integrate Delta's network of more than 290
destinations in the Americas with Korean's more than 80 Asian destinations.
They also say that the joint venture will result in improved
reciprocal benefits between the Delta SkyMiles and Korean Air SkyPass loyalty
programs.
Korean Air flies to 10 U.S. airports from Seoul, while Delta
flies to Seoul from Seattle, Detroit and Atlanta.
According to South Korean publication Pulse, the transport ministry
applied consumer-protection conditions to the joint venture.
Specifically, the carriers will not be allowed to reduce
seat counts on routes connecting Seoul to Seattle, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Detroit
and Washington Dulles.