SEOUL- Korean Air (KE) will launch daily nonstop flights between Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, starting May 22, 2027. The new service will mark the airline’s return to Newark after more than 25 years.
The Boeing 777-300ER-operated service will expand Korean Air’s presence in the New York metropolitan area and place it in direct competition with United Airlines (UA) and Air Premia (YP), which already operate flights between Incheon and Newark.
Korean Air Announces Daily Incheon-Newark Flight Schedule
Korean Air plans to operate the new Incheon-Newark route seven days a week, providing passengers with a direct connection between South Korea and the northeastern United States.
The airline has scheduled the service with the following flight numbers and departure times:
| Flight | Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| KE97 | Incheon (ICN) to Newark (EWR) | 10:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| KE98 | Newark (EWR) to Incheon (ICN) | 1:00 AM | 5:15 AM (+1 day) |
All times are local. The outbound flight will have a scheduled duration of approximately 14 hours, while the return journey will take around 15 hours and 15 minutes.
The route covers approximately 6,896 miles and will operate using a Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft’s planned 277-seat configuration includes eight First Class seats, 42 Business Class seats, and 227 Economy Class seats.
This configuration will provide a premium cabin offering alongside Economy Class capacity for passengers travelling between South Korea and the United States.
Korean Air Returns to Newark After 2001
The new service marks Korean Air’s return to Newark following a lengthy absence.
The airline previously operated flights to Newark until September 2001, when it suspended the service following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. Korean Air did not subsequently restore the route.
The May 2027 launch will therefore end a gap of more than 25 years.
Newark will complement Korean Air’s existing operations at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The airline already serves the New York metropolitan area through JFK, making Newark an additional gateway rather than a replacement for its existing New York service.
The two airports offer access to different parts of the wider metropolitan region. Newark provides a particularly important option for passengers travelling to New Jersey and nearby areas of Pennsylvania, while also serving travellers heading to Manhattan and other parts of New York, OMAAT flagged.
Incheon-Newark Route Faces Competition From United and Air Premia
Korean Air will enter an increasingly competitive market when it launches the new service in May 2027.
For several years, passengers travelling between Seoul and Newark had limited nonstop airline options. However, the market has changed significantly since Air Premia entered the route in May 2023.
The South Korean low-cost carrier introduced Incheon-Newark flights using Boeing 787 aircraft, establishing a direct connection between the two destinations.
United Airlines subsequently entered the market on September 5, 2026, launching its own daily nonstop service using the Boeing 787-9.
Korean Air will become the third airline offering nonstop flights between Incheon and Newark.
The three airlines will compete for passengers travelling between South Korea, New Jersey, and the wider New York metropolitan area.
| Airline | IATA Code | Aircraft | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air | KE | Boeing 777-300ER | ICN-EWR |
| United Airlines | UA | Boeing 787-9 | ICN-EWR |
| Air Premia | YP | Boeing 787-9 | ICN-EWR |
With all three carriers scheduled to offer daily flights, the route will have considerably more nonstop competition than it did just a few years earlier.
Korean Air’s Asiana Integration Creates New Network Opportunities
Korean Air’s Newark expansion also comes during a major transformation of its operations following its acquisition of Asiana Airlines.
Korean Air completed the acquisition of Asiana in December 2024, bringing its former domestic competitor under its ownership. However, the full integration of the two airlines is scheduled to take effect on December 17, 2026.
As part of the integration, Asiana flights departing on or after December 17 will operate under Korean Air flight numbers and be operated by Korean Air.
The combination will give the carrier a larger operational network and create opportunities to review overlapping routes, frequencies, and aircraft deployment.
Both airlines previously maintained substantial operations in major US markets, including Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Integrating these operations provides scope to adjust capacity while exploring additional destinations.
Newark represents one opportunity to strengthen Korean Air’s presence in the northeastern United States without relying exclusively on JFK.
However, Korean Air has not publicly confirmed that the Newark launch is directly linked to a specific capacity reduction following the Asiana integration.
Delta Partnership Strengthens Korean Air’s US Connectivity
Korean Air also benefits from its transpacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines (DL).
The partnership allows both airlines to combine their networks and provide passengers with wider connectivity between the United States and Asia.
Their joint network covers more than 290 destinations across the Americas and over 80 destinations in Asia.
Incheon serves as an important connecting hub for the partnership, allowing passengers to access additional destinations through the combined networks.
The new Newark service will further expand Korean Air’s nonstop connectivity to the United States and complement its existing JFK operations.
Korean Air Strengthens Its New York Market Presence
Korean Air’s decision to add Newark while maintaining its existing JFK presence reflects the importance of the wider New York metropolitan market.
New York and New Jersey attract substantial business, tourism, educational, and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic from South Korea.
The additional airport option will give passengers more flexibility when travelling to different parts of the region. It will also give Korean Air another gateway to attract passengers who prefer Newark over JFK because of their final destination.
Competition will nevertheless increase as United Airlines, Air Premia, and Korean Air operate on the same route.
The Boeing 777-300ER will also provide Korean Air with a different aircraft offering compared with the Boeing 787-9 aircraft operated by its competitors.
Bottom Line
Korean Air will launch daily nonstop flights between Seoul Incheon and Newark on May 22, 2027, using a Boeing 777-300ER.
The service will restore a route discontinued in 2001 and strengthen the airline’s presence in the New York metropolitan area alongside its existing JFK operations.
With United Airlines and Air Premia already serving the market, Korean Air’s entry will bring the number of airlines offering daily nonstop Incheon-Newark flights to three.
The launch also comes ahead of Asiana Airlines’ full integration, allowing the combined Korean carrier to strengthen its international network and expand its presence in key US markets.
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