Originally Posted by Akiestar

As I posted on A.net, air travel between the Philippines and South Korea is booming, so DL launching ICN-MNL is very exciting. KE currently flies to MNL twice daily, and a third departure would be beneficial for connections. I can see DL keeping the existing NRT schedule (departing MNL in the morning, while returning late afternoon), which would help fill gaps in KE's current schedule as they don't serve either time slot. (In addition, DL doesn't codeshare on KE's Philippines flights, even if it may be part of the KE/DL JV.)

It also helps that there's open skies between the Philippines and South Korea (save for MNL), as opposed to Singapore, making it easier for DL to move its flight to ICN if needed without needing a new slot to fly out of MNL.