Korean Air to Operate 17 Charter Round Trips Between Seoul/Incheon and Four Japanese Cities

Korean Air will operate a total of 17 charter round trips between Seoul/Incheon and four cities in Japan, timed to coincide with South Korea’s major autumn holiday period and Japan’s autumn tourism season.

The Seoul/Incheon–Hanamaki route will be operated with a Boeing 737-8 aircraft (158 seats), the Seoul/Incheon–Nanki-Shirahama route with a Boeing 737-900ER aircraft (173 seats), and the Seoul/Incheon–Niigata route with an Airbus A321neo aircraft (182 seats). Each route will operate two round trips, on September 24 and 27. The Seoul/Incheon–Oita route will be operated with an Airbus A321neo aircraft, with 11 round trips scheduled for September 24, 27, and 30, and October 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24.

All flights are intended for passengers departing from South Korea and will be sold only in South Korea. The first flight departing Japan and the final flight arriving in Japan will be non-revenue ferry flights without passengers. The operating schedule is subject to government approval and may change without prior notice.

The number of South Korean visitors to Japan reached 5.6 million through June 2026, up 18.6% year on year. In addition to major urban areas, regional Japanese cities where visitors can experience Japan’s nature, history, and food culture are also becoming increasingly popular.

This year, the airline has announced increased frequencies on scheduled services for the summer timetable, as well as the launch of a new Hiroshima–Seoul/Incheon route from December 23. The charter flights will be added to these services.