Korean Air will resume direct service between Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Oita Airport (OIT) on 25 October 2026, operating four times weekly through 27 March 2027.
Route Details
Flights run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using an Airbus A321neo configured for 182 passengers. The schedule is tight and convenient for short trips: the Incheon departure leaves at 09:15 and touches down in Oita at 10:50 (local time). The return from Oita departs at 12:00, arriving back at Incheon by 13:45.
The route had last operated between January and March 2024 before going dark. The new winter 2026/27 schedule matches the highest frequency Korean Air has ever operated on this corridor, a record first set in 2003.
Why Oita?
Oita Prefecture is the gateway to Kyushu’s most celebrated onsen destinations. Beppu - famous for its “Hells” geothermal pools and ryokan culture - sits around 20 minutes by bus from Oita Airport. Yufuin, the quieter hot-spring resort town that consistently tops Japanese domestic travel lists, is roughly 40 minutes away. For Seoul-based travellers who want a genuine onsen weekend without routing through Fukuoka or Tokyo, this direct link is the most efficient option on the market.
Booking and Planning
Tickets are now on sale through Korean Air and third-party booking platforms. The flight time is under two hours each way, which makes a two-night Kyushu trip entirely feasible from Seoul.
South Korea visitors planning to combine a Korea itinerary with a quick Japan side trip should note that the service ends 27 March 2027 - it is a seasonal, winter-schedule route. If demand holds, resumption for the 2027/28 winter season is plausible but unconfirmed.
For context on getting to and from Incheon Airport, see our Incheon Airport transfer guide and flights to South Korea guide.