[THE INVESTOR] Korean Air and Delta Airlines are strengthening their code-sharing agreement, increasing the routes to 159 from the current 32, the South Korean airline announced on Sept. 7.

Starting from November, the largest commercial carriers in South Korean and the US will offer joint schedules including 142 destinations in the US and Canada as well as 33 destinations in Asia. 

Delta will start operating daily nonstop flight between Incheon and Atlanta from June 2017. In addition, they will launch code-share on two international routes, to Sao Paulo, Brazil, from both Atlanta and New York. 

Subject to government approval, the shared flights will be available from November, except for the new service that begins operating next year.

“Our expanded partnership with Delta allows our customers to travel more conveniently with more options between Asia and the Americas, strengthening our position as the world’s largest trans-Pacific airline,” said Walter Cho, COO of Korean Air, adding that “travelers will benefit from the combined network strength of Korean Air and Delta resulting in greater schedule flexibility and increased frequency.”

Korean Air currently has joint code-share agreements with 35 airlines for 260 routes.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)