Could Korean Air launch a nonstop flight between Seoul Incheon Airport (ICN) and Orlando International Airport (MCO)? Well, that’s what airport executives in Orlando seem to think, though I’m not holding my breath…
Orlando wants a nonstop flight from South Korea
Orlando Business Journal reports on how the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and Osceola County have signed a partnership agreement with Incheon International Airport, laying the groundwork for direct service between the two airports. This would be the first nonstop connection between North Asia and Florida.
The claim is that the parties are working to “finalize details of the flight, including the airline and when service will start.” Suffice it to say that those are some important things to iron out. For that matter, I’d say that phrasing is perhaps a bit overly optimistic. Presumably it’s more like they’re “working to see if any airline is interested in flying this route.”
There is an estimated passenger demand of around 150,000 people annually between Northeast Asia and Orlando. Meanwhile between Northeast Asia and Florida overall, that demand is around 350,000 people annually. This route wouldn’t just be about tourism, but also business, particularly when it comes to the semiconductor industry.
Here’s how Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb described this:
“Direct flights from South Korea to Orlando have long been a goal for our region, and this agreement brings us closer than ever to making that vision a reality. This connection will not only strengthen tourism but also business connections to position NeoCity as a global leader in semiconductor innovation, paving the way for greater economic opportunities and international collaboration.”
Meanwhile here’s what Incheon International Airport CEO Lee Hag-jae had to say:
“With our exciting partnership with Orlando International Airport and Osceola County in Florida, we will jointly embark on comprehensive efforts to establish the first-ever direct flight route from Asia to Orlando, thereby improving passenger convenience and promoting vibrant business and travel exchanges between South Korea and the United States.”
Could a Korean Air flight to Orlando become a reality?
As you can see, neither airport authority is naming the airline that could operate this service. Presumably if it were to become a reality, Korean Air would be the airline operating the route. After all, the airline just completed its takeover of Asiana, so it would be the logical carrier to operate the route, as Korea’s only major global player.
On the one hand, this doesn’t seem that outlandish. I mean, the “new” Korean Air has a lot of capacity to play with, and has flexibility, thanks to its acquisition of Asiana, and all the duplicate routes the airlines have.
With the Delta and Korean Air joint venture, it’s pretty clear that the goal is to offer as much one-stop connectivity as possible between points in the United States and points in Asia. Add in some government subsidies, an the math on this route might not be so bad (well, at least until the incentives run out).
That being said, I still wouldn’t count on this route becoming a reality. That’s not to say it couldn’t or won’t happen, but rather that I think it’s far from a sure bet. At over 7,500 miles, this would be an ultra long haul flight, and I just feel like there are other gaps in Korean Air’s route network that would make more sense.
Speaking of flights between Florida and North Asia, keep in mind that Miami has been working on attracting a nonstop Japan flight for many years. That has never come to fruition, despite the fact that Miami is arguably a bigger business market, and also a joint venture hub for Japan Airlines (American has a hub there).
So we’ll mark this as “developing” for now, but it sure seems like authorities are maybe a bit overconfident in terms of the prospect of this happening.
Bottom line
Airport authorities in Orlando and Seoul Incheon have signed an agreement that lays the groundwork for nonstop flights between the two airports. Now all they need is an airline willing to operate the service. While both parties seem confident that this will happen, I’m quite skeptical.
Presumably if an airline were to launch this route, it would be Korean Air. And in fairness, if there were a time for Korean Air to try a route like this, now would be the time, given the takeover of Asiana, the excess capacity, and the Delta joint venture. I still think it’s unlikely this becomes a reality, but you never know…
What do you make of the prospects of a nonstop Seoul Incheon to Orlando flight?
