- Expanded direct flights between Incheon and major U.S. cities and joint marketing efforts
- Expected to attract global investment in conjunction with the Incheon Free Economic Zone.
- Mayor Yoo says, "Cooperation with Delta Air Lines will strengthen Incheon's status as a global city" -
The Incheon Metropolitan Government (Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok) announced on July 10 (local time) that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Delta Air Lines, a leading U.S. airline, in Atlanta, U.S.A., for mutual cooperation, including the promotion of tourism.
The MOU aims to strengthen the global air network connecting Incheon to the Americas and lay the strategic foundation for Incheon to become a major tourism hub in Asia.
Under the MOU, Incheon City and Delta Air Lines will strengthen strategic cooperation in various areas, including expanding direct flights between Incheon and major U.S. cities, joint promotion and global marketing efforts to attract international tourists.
The city plans to further solidify the foundation for public-private partnerships with global airlines, and to accelerate the global recognition of Incheon's tourism brand. By leveraging Delta Air Lines' network of major U.S. hubs and extensive marketing capabilities, Incheon will be able to launch a full-scale tourist attraction campaign targeting the Americas. In addition, the city plans to develop tourism products in conjunction with the nonstop flights to expand tourism demand.
In addition, the MOU is expected to attract foreign investment in related industries such as aviation, logistics, and MICE through strategic linkages with the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ). The combination of the IFEZ's competitive location, centered around Incheon International Airport in the international city of Yeongjong, and Delta's aviation expertise will create synergies in a variety of areas.
"Incheon is one of Asia's most strategic aviation hubs," said Alan Velemar, Delta's Chief Operating Officer and President of International , who signed the MOU on behalf of Delta Air Lines. "This agreement will further strengthen Delta's global aviation network, and we look forward to working closely with the City of Incheon to achieve sustainable growth for both parties."
"This MOU is an important opportunity for Incheon to strengthen its status as a center for tourism, logistics, and aviation, while expanding strategic partnerships with global companies," said Mayor Yoo Jung-bok, who attended the signing ceremony. "Through our cooperation with Delta, we will do our best to help Incheon become a tourism hub in Northeast Asia and a global investment destination."
Under the MOU, Incheon City will provide administrative support for Delta's expansion of nonstop flights. In addition, we will continue to explore specific ways to enhance the effectiveness of the MOU, and continue to work together to ensure that it leads to tangible results through regular inspections and practical implementation.
The MOU is expected to be more than just a declaratory agreement, but an action-oriented model of cooperation aimed at promoting practical projects and strengthening Incheon's status as an international city.
Delta Air Lines is a global airline headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with more than 5,000 daily flights to more than 290 destinations on six continents around the world. With industry-leading customer service innovation and reliability, the airline carried more than 200 million passengers last year. Domestically, Delta has provided a more convenient flying experience for nearly 15 million passengers since entering into a joint venture with Korean Air in 2018, and together we now offer 14 nonstop U.S. routes with up to 19 daily flights from Incheon.
