Last updated: September 2026
Quick answer: Korean Air resumes its Incheon–Oita route on October 25, 2026, flying four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) on an Airbus A321neo through March 26, 2027. Oita is the gateway to Beppu and Yufuin, two of Japan’s best-known hot-spring areas, so the route is a winter-season addition aimed at onsen travelers. It’s a seasonal service, not a year-round one.
When Do the Korean Air Incheon–Oita Flights Run?
The service runs October 25, 2026 to March 26, 2027, four round trips a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, according to Travel Radar’s report on the winter schedule. Korean Air is timing it to the cold-weather season, when demand for hot-spring trips in Kyushu peaks. Because it is a limited-run route, check the exact operating dates when you book — the schedule can be adjusted by the airline.
What Are the Flight Times and Aircraft?
Flights leave Incheon at 09:15 and land in Oita at 10:50; the return departs Oita at 12:00 and reaches Incheon at 13:45. The aircraft is an Airbus A321neo with 182 seats — 8 in Prestige business class and 174 in economy. Both legs are under two hours of local-clock time, and the morning departure from Incheon means you can reach Kyushu in time for a first afternoon in the hot springs.
Who Is This Route Useful For?
The route is mainly a Korea-to-Japan winter getaway, so its direct audience is travelers based in Seoul. But it matters for visitors too. If you are already in Korea for a longer trip, Oita is an easy add-on for a few onsen nights, and travelers from Japan’s Kyushu region gain a direct link to Seoul without connecting through Fukuoka. For the wider picture of what’s changing at the airport this year, see our Incheon Airport new routes 2026 roundup, and for other Japan–Korea additions this autumn, Asiana’s seasonal Kobe–Incheon flight and Peach Aviation’s new Narita–Incheon route both start in September.
How Do I Get to Incheon and Compare Fares?
Departures leave Incheon in the morning, so plan to reach the airport early — the Incheon Airport to Seoul guide covers the AREX train, limousine buses and taxis, and the guide to where to stay in Incheon lists hotels close to the terminals for a night before an early flight. Winter seasonal routes with four weekly flights fill up on peak weekends and around the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays, so it pays to book early. To see how this route stacks up against other options, compare current fares to Seoul✈️ before you commit.
If you are entering Korea on your way to or from Japan, the Korea entry requirements guide explains what your passport needs at immigration.
Quick Summary: Korean Air Incheon–Oita
- Operating period: October 25, 2026 – March 26, 2027 (seasonal)
- Frequency: Four times a week — Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
- Aircraft: Airbus A321neo, 182 seats (8 Prestige, 174 economy)
- Incheon → Oita: 09:15 → 10:50
- Oita → Incheon: 12:00 → 13:45
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