SEOUL- Korean Air (KE) resumes its Boeing 747-8i service on the Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Atlanta (ATL) route, reclaiming the title of the longest nonstop scheduled 747 passenger flight by distance in the world.
Starting April 25, 2025, this iconic aircraft replaces the Boeing 777-300ER, offering 33% more seating capacity, Simple Flying reported.
This SkyTeam route, a key trans-Pacific joint venture with Delta Air Lines (DL), strengthens connectivity between Seoul (ICN) and Atlanta (ATL), the US’s 8th busiest international airport.
The 747-8i’s return enhances capacity and passenger experience on this high-demand, 7,152-mile journey.
Korean Air World’s Longest 747 Flight
Korean Air (KE) restarts its Boeing 747-8i operations on the Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Atlanta (ATL) route on April 25, 2025, after a brief hiatus.
This marks the return of the “Queen of the Skies” to a route that spans 7,152 miles, overtaking Lufthansa’s (LH) Frankfurt (FRA) to Buenos Aires (EZE) as the longest scheduled 747 passenger flight by distance.
The flight’s duration, approximately 14 hours outbound and 15 hours 20 minutes inbound, is notable but surpassed by Air China’s (CA) Beijing Capital (PEK) to Washington Dulles (IAD) in block time.
The 747-8i, with 368 seats, offers a significant capacity increase over the 277-seat 777-300ER previously used on this route.
This includes two fewer first-class seats, six additional Prestige Class seats, and 87 more economy seats, shifting the economy class share from 82% to 85%.
The aircraft’s larger capacity aligns with peak summer demand, operating twice weekly initially and daily from early May through August 31, 2025, though schedules may adjust. The 777-300ER is set to return on September 1, 2025.
Flight schedules reflect precise planning for passenger convenience. Korean Air’s KE035 departs Seoul Incheon at 09:15, arriving in Atlanta at 10:15 the same day.
The return flight, KE036, leaves Atlanta at 12:30, landing in Seoul at 16:50 the next day. These daily flights ensure seamless connectivity for SkyTeam passengers, particularly those connecting through Delta’s Atlanta hub.
Strategic Role in SkyTeam
The Seoul (ICN) to Atlanta (ATL) route underscores the strong partnership between Korean Air (KE) and Delta Air Lines (DL), both SkyTeam members.
Delta, the world’s largest SkyTeam carrier, operates a double-daily service on this route using its premium-configured Airbus A350-900 with 275 seats.
Combined with Korean Air’s daily 747-8i flight, the airlines offer triple-daily service, providing 1,682 roundtrip seats daily in April 2025.
This capacity rivals other major SkyTeam routes from Atlanta, such as Paris (CDG) and Amsterdam (AMS).
Delta’s extensive presence in Seoul (ICN), with more capacity than to any Asian destination except Tokyo Haneda (HND), highlights the strategic importance of this route.
Korean Air, Asia’s second-largest international carrier by flights, leverages Atlanta’s hub status to connect passengers across the US via Delta’s network. This joint venture ensures robust scheduling and enhanced passenger options, cementing the route’s role in trans-Pacific travel.
Expansion to London Heathrow
Korean Air (KE) will also deploy the 747-8i to London Heathrow (LHR) from July 25 to October 24, 2025, replacing the 777-300ER on this key European route.
Operating thrice weekly, this marks a reduction from the daily service in 2024 and the initially planned four weekly flights for 2025.
The 747-8i’s 368 seats will boost capacity to Europe’s busiest airport, which currently lacks other scheduled 747 passenger services.
The return of the 747 to Heathrow is significant, as the aircraft type has largely vanished from UK skies since British Airways (BA) retired its 747-400 fleet in April 2020, accelerated by the pandemic.
Korean Air’s use of the fuel-hungry but iconic quadjet reflects a strategic balance between meeting demand and offering a premium experience, despite the industry’s shift to more efficient twinjets.
Future Outlook
Korean Air’s (KE) frequent equipment changes, including toggling between the 747-8i, A380, and 777-300ER, reflect its adaptive fleet strategy but complicate long-term planning.
The 747-8i’s summer 2025 deployment to Atlanta (ATL) and London (LHR) may shift again, as seen in December 2024 when the airline initially planned to ground the 747-8i for the season.
The 747-8i’s future is uncertain beyond 2025, with Korean Air transitioning some airframes to non-passenger roles, such as conversions for the Sierra Nevada Corporation.
While the aircraft remains a passenger favorite for its spacious cabins, its high operating costs challenge its viability against modern, fuel-efficient alternatives like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350.
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