Korean Air to launch daily Incheon-Hiroshima service from Dec. 23

Korean Air announced Monday it will launch daily service between Incheon and Hiroshima, Japan, beginning Dec. 23.

Flights on the Incheon-Hiroshima route will depart Incheon International Airport at 10:35 a.m. and arrive at Hiroshima Airport at 12:15 p.m. The return flight leaves Hiroshima Airport at 1:25 p.m. and arrives at Incheon International Airport at 3:25 p.m. The airline will operate the route with the Airbus A321neo, a next-generation narrowbody aircraft.

Hiroshima is the largest city in Japan's Chugoku region, located in the western part of Honshu, and offers a wide range of tourism attractions blending history, nature and tradition.

Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is counted among Japan's three most scenic views and stands alongside Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park as one of the city's most iconic destinations. Shukkeien, a traditional garden in central Hiroshima with roughly 400 years of history, is celebrated for its classic Japanese landscape design.

Hiroshima is also known for a variety of travel experiences, including hot springs and local cuisine. Visitors can explore traditional hot-spring towns such as Tomonoura and Kinoe, and sample regional specialties including Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, oysters and beef. Several golf courses are also accessible within an hour of Hiroshima Airport, making the city a popular destination for year-round golf travel.

Hiroshima serves as a transportation hub connecting major cities across the Chugoku region. The Sanyo Shinkansen provides convenient access to cities such as Okayama, and the area lends itself well to multi-destination itineraries.

Hiroshima is home to the headquarters and major production facilities of Japanese automaker Mazda, as well as a semiconductor production facility operated by US chipmaker Micron. Other major industrial players — including JFE Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in the steel, machinery and manufacturing sectors — are also based in the area, supporting demand for both leisure and business travel.

Korean Air said it has been consistently strengthening its regional Japan network in line with growing travel demand.

The airline has increased its Incheon-Aomori service to five times a week on the summer schedule, while its Niigata and Komatsu routes now operate daily. The Incheon-Okayama route has also been expanded to four times a week. Korean Air has further added a late-night flight on the Incheon-Kansai route to improve convenience for travelers to Japan.

Meanwhile, Korean Air is also moving to expand its international network to better serve customers. The airline will launch Incheon-Melbourne service from Dec. 18 through March 14 next year to meet Australia's peak travel season and consistently growing passenger demand.