Delta Air Lines launches flights from Atlanta to Seoul on Saturday, its second route to Asia from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
The only other route to Asia that Delta flies from Atlanta is to Tokyo. It is launching the Seoul flights as part of an expanded partnership with Korean Air.
Delta's daily flights from Atlanta to Seoul on 291-seat Boeing 777-200LR jets will be in addition to daily flights operated on the route by Korean Air.
Gov. Nathan Deal will be on the first flight on Saturday for a week-long economic development mission trip to South Korea and Japan.
Atlanta-based Delta also flies to Seoul from Detroit and Seattle. Delta previously flew the Atlanta-Seoul route, but discontinued the service in 2009 amid a global recession.
Delta is expanding partnerships with airlines in Asia to grow its route network in the region as it shrinks its Tokyo hub.
Delta has cut routes at its Asian hub at Tokyo's Narita Airport, amid increased competition from U.S. airlines at Haneda Airport, which is closer to Tokyo's city center. The increased competition comes as a new U.S. -Japan aviation agreement liberalized flying by U.S. airlines at Haneda.
Delta earlier this year announced a deal with Korean Air for a trans-Pacific joint venture and an expanded flight network to more than 80 destinations in Asia.
AJC reporter Greg Bluestein contributed to this article.
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