Passengers flying out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will have direct service to Seoul, South Korea and Asia on Delta Air Lines beginning next year. 

In a joint venture with Korean Air, Delta announced that its customers will have access to more than 80 Asian destinations and a world-class customer experience at Seoul-Incheon’s new Terminal 2, the home of Delta and Korean Air. 

“Delta’s future is global and adding another nonstop flight to the joint venture’s Seoul-Incheon hub with Korean Air expands on our long-term vision,” said Delta’s CEO Ed Bastian. “This will be a great driver of international commerce for the Minneapolis/St. Paul community and the State of Minnesota, as well as benefiting our customers, our employees and our owners.”

Delta will utilize newly refreshed 777-200ER aircraft with all new cabins on the new route. Schedule details of the service will be announced in the future.  

“This is the first direct service between MSP International Airport and South Korea, and we are thrilled Delta Air Lines has decided to provide it,” said Brian Ryks, Executive Director and CEO of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates MSP. “Travelers can connect to dozens of other cities throughout Southeast Asia through Seoul’s Incheon Airport, providing Twin Cities businesses with easy access to customers and clients in critical growing markets.”  

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is preparing for a busy summer travel season and encourages Minnesota travelers to do the same. 

When schools let out, the airport gets busy, not only with families taking vacations, but also with summer campers leaving and arriving. 

 MSP Airport’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) team says it expects to screen an average of 37,400 passengers per day, an average daily increase of 1,125 people when compared to summer 2017 levels.

The busiest days of the week will be Thursdays and Fridays as well as Sundays and Mondays. The busiest times for security screening are expected to be between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily.

On peak travel days, the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) plans to provide additional workers in the departures lobby to help speed the security screening process. 

“Every week, we meet with airline and federal security officials to learn from the previous week and identify opportunities to improve the passenger experience and make resource adjustments,” said Roy Fuhrmann, MAC’s chief operating officer. “We’ll continue to do that throughout the summer, working to move people quickly and efficiently through the check-in and security screening processes.”

Travelers should arrive at least two hours prior to their departure time to provide enough time for parking, check-in, security screening and getting to their gate.  

The TSA also reminds travelers that:

New carry-on baggage screening procedures are now in place at all airports across the country including MSP. The procedures require travelers to place all electronic devices larger than a cell phone – including tablets, e-readers and cameras - in bins for x-ray screening when going through the security checkpoint. The electronics should be placed in a bin with nothing on top or below, similar to how laptops have been screened for several years. 

For those who prefer to arrive at the airport even earlier, there are many new dining and shopping options, as well as activities to keep you entertained before your flight. 

For instance, at Terminal 1 you can: check out the Best Game in the World exhibit at the Thomson Reuters Concourse C Art Gallery, play a round of virtual golf at PGA-MSP, give your kids a workout at the children's play area, or watch award-winning, regionally produced films at the See18 film space. 

At Terminal 2, don't miss the new permanent art exhibit near gates H10-14. There's also a new Starbucks near gate H5.

Here's to starting your vacation off right!