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With IRBS, checked baggage is X-ray screened at departure in Korea, and images are securely transmitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for remote review before the flight arrives. This eliminates the need for passengers to collect and recheck bags upon arrival in the U.S, reducing connection times by approximately 20 minutes and removing one of the most stressful parts of international travel..jpg)
Representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Incheon International Airport Corporation
For customers, this means:
Smoother connections – especially through Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport.
Less waiting – no need to queue for baggage recheck or customs.
More peace of mind – checked bags automatically transfer to the final destination.
Faster start to the journey – arrive in the U.S. and head directly to the next flight or exit the airport.
The benefit applies not only to non-stop ICN–ATL passengers but also to those starting their journey in other cities and connecting via Incheon.
With nearly 300,000 passengers flying this route each year, the introduction of IRBS is expected to have a significant impact. More than half connect to onward flights via Atlanta. In 2024, 67,000 of 123,000 Korean Air passengers and more than 100,000 of 160,000 Delta passengers transited through Atlanta.
“Together with Delta and our partners, we are introducing new initiatives to deliver a seamless passenger experience,” said Kwangho Ko, Senior Vice President at Korean Air. “We will continue to deploy services to maximize convenience and comfort for our customers.”.jpg)
International Remote Baggage Screening (IRBS) notice in front of boarding gate
“Through our joint venture with Korean Air, we’re committed to making transpacific travel easier and more enjoyable,” said Jeff Moomaw, Delta’s Vice President for APAC. “This is only the beginning—we aim to bring these benefits to more U.S. destinations from ICN.”
Chart comparing process before and after introduction of IRBS
About Korean Air
Serving the world for more than 55 years, Korean Air is one of the world's top 20 airlines, carrying more than 23 million passengers in 2024. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 117 cities in 40 countries on five continents with a modern fleet of 161 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.
Korean Air's outstanding performance and commitment to the highest level of safety and customer service has widely been recognized. The airline has been granted numerous awards including a 5-star airline rating from Skytrax as well as Airline of the Year from both Air Transport World and Airline Ratings. Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, and has grown into one of the largest transpacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.
About the Korean Air and Delta Joint Venture
Korean Air and Delta Air Lines are celebrating the 7th anniversary of their highly successful transpacific joint venture, which has benefited nearly 15 million customers since launching in May 2018. Today, Korean Air and Delta offer 19 peak-day departures between Seoul-Incheon and the United States, connecting more than 260 destinations in the Americas and more than 65 destinations in Asia. More than 4,400 customers connect between the carriers each day at Incheon, an increase of more than 50 percent in seven years. Korean Air and Delta work closely to develop products and services to ensure a consistent and industry-leading customer experience, including seamless check-in, reciprocal mileage benefits and convenient and coordinated flight schedules.
For more information about Korean Air, please visit www.koreanair.com, Korea
Tags Jeff Moomaw, Delta Air Lines, Kwangho Ko, Korean Air