Korean Air Will Launch Melbourne Flights

Korean Air will return to Melbourne Airport (MEL) on 18 December 2026 after a 13-year absence, with a seasonal service.

The South Korean carrier will initially offer a seasonal Boeing 787-9 service after the Asiana Airlines merger; Asiana previously operated the route.

Korean Air to Resume Melbourne Flights

Korean Air will operate the Seoul Incheon (ICN)–Melbourne (MEL) route three times a week, operating on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays until 14 March 2027.

KE409 will depart Incheon at 0800 and arrive in Melbourne at 2030 local time. KE410 is scheduled to depart Melbourne at 2200 and arrive in Incheon the following morning at 0735.

The South Korean carrier will operate the route with its Boeing 787-9, replacing the Airbus A350-900 that Asiana Airlines previously operated. Additionally, the route puts Korean Air back in Melbourne for the first time since 2013.

For now, the Korean Air operation will not be year-round but instead a thrice-weekly summer leisure service, with scope to expand to year-round operations.

The seasonal nature of the service leaves room to assess demand following Asiana Airlines’ integration to Seoul and whether Melbourne can support a year-round Korean Air service.

Asiana Airlines Merger Changes Australian Network

While Korean Air will return to Melbourne Airport, the service effectively transfers the seasonal Melbourne–Seoul service flight from Asiana to Korean Air as of mid-December, when the merger takes effect.

Asiana previously maintained a seasonal presence between the two cities before the two South Korean carriers merged, and Korean Air will now assume responsibility for the combined operation to Melbourne.

As a result, Korean Air’s Australian network will also see changes as the two airlines merge and the Asiana Airlines brand disappears.

With Korean Air already flying from Incheon to Sydney and Brisbane, the network will need recalibration, with Asiana Airlines’ assets now at its disposal. Long-haul capacity will increase with the new assets; the carrier must decide how best to deploy the additional aircraft to avoid overcapacity and margin pressure.