Korean Air has confirmed it will resume nonstop flights between Seoul Incheon International Airport and Melbourne Airport from December 18, 2026. The route will operate three times weekly — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays — using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.
A Route Dormant Since 2013
This marks the first direct Seoul–Melbourne service since 2013, when Asiana Airlines suspended its nonstop operation. Asiana’s Melbourne route effectively disappeared following the 2024 merger with Korean Air. The new service restores direct connectivity between Australia’s second-largest city and the Korean hub, eliminating the intermediate stop that Australian passengers have had to make in cities such as Singapore or Bangkok for the past 13 years.
Flight Details
Scheduled as KE409 (Incheon → Melbourne) and KE410 (Melbourne → Incheon), the route will be flown by the Boeing 787-9, which carries around 269 passengers in a three-class configuration. The aircraft is one of Korean Air’s most modern, offering flat-bed seats in business class on long-haul routes.
Flight times for the approximately 10–11 hour journey will be confirmed closer to the launch date. Korean Air expects to open bookings to the public imminently.
Why This Matters for Travellers
For visitors flying in from Australia, a nonstop Seoul connection cuts significant travel time compared to one-stop routings through Southeast Asian hubs. It also simplifies onward connections within South Korea, given Incheon’s extensive domestic and regional network.
The Melbourne launch comes as South Korea continues to see strong growth in international visitor numbers. Australian arrivals to Korea reached a record pace in the first half of 2026 on the strength of K-pop, food, and cultural tourism.
Planning Your South Korea Trip
Travellers booking via the new Melbourne route will arrive at Incheon, which connects by rail (AREX Express) directly to central Seoul in around 43 minutes. Our practical travel guide covers transport from Incheon, SIM cards, T-money transit cards, and other arrival essentials.
We will update this article with confirmed flight times and booking links when Korean Air publishes full schedule details.