Flights to South Korea: Nonstop Routes from the US, Airlines and Airports

Most flights to South Korea from the US land at Incheon International Airport (ICN), about 43 minutes from downtown Seoul by express train. Nonstops run from more than a dozen US cities, and from the West Coast the flight is roughly 13 hours. This page covers who flies where as of October 2026, how long it takes, and how to get on to Busan or Jeju once you land.

Airline schedules change by season. Treat the route lists below as a starting point and confirm on the airline's own site before you book.

Which US cities have nonstop flights to South Korea?

Seven airlines fly nonstop between the US and Seoul Incheon as of October 2026: Korean Air, Asiana, Delta, United, American, Alaska and Air Premia. Korean Air covers the most US cities, Delta and Korean Air work as partners across the Pacific, and Asiana's US flights are being folded into Korean Air (see below).

Sources: Korean Air's US route listings, Delta's newsroom, Air Premia's 2026 schedule notice, Washington Dulles Airport, Alaska Airlines' newsroom and October 2026 flight-tracking data. United also flies San Francisco to Seoul, and American flies Dallas/Fort Worth to Seoul. Alaska's Seattle flight runs about five days a week. Air Premia's published US schedule ran to late October 2026, so check its winter timetable before you plan around it.

How long is a flight to South Korea?

We worked these times out from Air Premia's and United's published 2026 schedules, adjusting for time zones. Other airlines' times on the same route are similar but not identical. In every case the flight to Korea is longer than the flight home.

Korea is 13 to 17 hours ahead of the continental US, so you'll usually land the day after you leave. Flights home often arrive the same calendar day they depart.

South Korea airlines: Korean Air, Asiana and the merger

Korean Air is the country's flag carrier, and as of October 2026 it's absorbing Asiana Airlines. The integrated airline is set to launch on December 17, 2026, with Korean Air taking over all of Asiana's assets, staff and operations, and the two mileage programs are being merged. Asiana's US flights (Los Angeles, New York JFK and San Francisco) are moving to Korean Air aircraft from that date, and its Seattle flight already switched to Korean Air flight numbers on October 12. If you hold an Asiana ticket for travel after mid-December, check its status on Korean Air's or Asiana's website.

Korea also has several low-cost carriers, including Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul and Eastar Jet, all of which appear on the domestic routes from Gimpo, Gimhae or Jeju. Air Premia is the hybrid long-haul option, with premium economy and economy cabins only.

Incheon vs Gimpo: which Seoul airport?

Seoul has two airports and you'll probably use both.

Incheon has two terminals, and the express train times differ by terminal, so check which one your airline uses. The Korea Tourism Organization's airport transportation page lists the rail, bus and taxi options from each airport.

Domestic flights to Jeju and Busan

Jeju is the one place in Korea where flying makes the most sense. Jeju International Airport has flights from Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae (Busan), Cheongju, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Yeosu and several smaller airports, and the tourism office notes that Gimpo to Jeju is the busiest air route in the world. That means plenty of departures, but book ahead on Korean holiday weekends.

For Busan, Gimpo to Gimhae flights exist, but the KTX train from central Seoul is usually just as fast door to door and drops you at Busan Station in the city. Our guide to getting around South Korea compares train and plane. The KTO's domestic flights page lists every airline by airport.

How to find cheap flights to South Korea

We don't publish fare averages because they move too fast to be useful. A few things reliably help, though.

• Compare gateways. A cheap positioning flight to LAX, SFO, SEA or Honolulu can beat a connection from your home airport.
• Check Air Premia. It has flown from LAX, SFO, Newark, Honolulu and Dulles in 2026 and sells mostly economy and premium economy; confirm its winter schedule.
• Avoid Korean holiday peaks. In 2026, Seollal fell on February 16 to 18 and Chuseok on September 24 to 26; domestic flights and trains fill up around both.
• Be flexible by a few days. Use the fare calendars on airline sites to compare departure dates.
• Price the whole trip. Our South Korea trip cost page puts airfare next to daily spending.

Before you fly: entry rules as of October 2026

US citizens can visit visa-free for up to 90 days. The K-ETA is not required for US citizens through December 31, 2026; for 2027 travel, check k-eta.go.kr before you book. If you don't have a K-ETA, submit the free e-Arrival card online within 3 days before landing. The full checklist is on our South Korea travel guide homepage, and safety basics are on the South Korea travel tips page.

Once your flight is booked, decide where to base yourself: our Seoul guide covers the neighborhoods closest to the airport train.