Korean Air returns to Melbourne with direct Seoul flights

Korean Air returns to Melbourne after 13 years
Seasonal route operates December 18 to March 14
Three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
Boeing 787-9 with 24 Prestige Suites
Only airline offering Melbourne-Seoul nonstop service

Korean Air will fly nonstop between Melbourne and Seoul for the first time in 13 years, taking over the route from Asiana as the two carriers complete their merger. From 18 December 2026, Korean Air will operate nonstop flights between Melbourne and Seoul Incheon three times a week, its first services out of the city since 2013. The seasonal route runs until 14 March 2027, covering the Australian summer.

Flights run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with KE409 departing Incheon at 08.00 and landing in Melbourne at 20.30. The return flight KE410 leaves Melbourne at 22.00 and arrives into Incheon at 07.35 the following morning. The route adds to Korean Air’s existing year-round services from Sydney and Brisbane, giving the airline three Australian gateways into a network that connects onward across North Asia through Incheon. The move fills a gap left by Asiana Airlines, which had operated the Melbourne-Seoul link seasonally since December 2023.

Korean Air will fly the route with a Boeing 787-9 fitted with 24 Prestige Suites in a staggered 2-2-2 layout, giving every business class seat direct aisle access. The seats recline into a bed and come with seat-back entertainment screens, though this represents an older generation of Korean Air’s business product. Economy passengers on the 787-9 will find a 3-3-3 cabin with seat-back screens throughout. Korean Air becomes the only airline flying Melbourne to Seoul nonstop after Asiana’s exit, with the direct flight covering the sector in 11 hours and 30 minutes against 13-15 hours for one-stop alternatives.

Korean Air shared: “The seasonal route covers the Australian summer, adding to existing year-round services from Sydney and Brisbane.”