Virgin Atlantic has launched a codeshare agreement with SkyTeam partner Korean Air. The deal provides travellers with direct flights to Seoul and will eventually offer codeshare flights from Seoul to Tokyo, Brisbane, Sydney and Nagoya. The partnership aids Virgin Atlantic’s entry into the Korean market, as the UK competition regulator examines the merger between Korean Air and Asiana. To address concerns about competition between the UK and South Korea, Korean Air will provide seven weekly London Heathrow slot pairs to Virgin Atlantic, which will allow it to launch a route to Seoul by summer 2024.