Korean Air Resumes Melbourne-Seoul Flights After 13-Year Absence
Korean Air is set to resume direct flights between Melbourne and Seoul in December after a 13-year absence. The airline will take over the route previously served by Asiana Airlines following its merger completion.
The seasonal service, on a Boeing 787-9, will operate three times a week with flights arriving into Melbourne at 8:30 pm and departing for Seoul Incheon at 10 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The route will run from December 18, 2026, until March 14, 2027.
Melbourne Airport reported over three million passengers in July, including more than one million international travellers. Despite a 2.5% year-on-year decrease due to capacity reductions related to conflict in the Middle East, airport chief Jim Parashos sees the resumption of Korean Air operations as a positive outcome.
Parashos pointed out that South Korea is one of the world's major economies and that the reliable direct connection between Melbourne and Seoul matters for Victorian exporters, tourism, and trade ties. He expects the route to grow over time, driven by broader momentum in the international travel market.