The codeshare will debut on Saturday (25 March) on services to Seoul’s Incheon airport, and has been described by Virgin as a "first step" towards its entry to Seoul.

It comes after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority earlier this month ruled a merger between Korean Air and Asiana would create a monopoly on the Heathrow-Seoul route.

The CMA named Virgin as the "proposed remedy taker", clearing the way for codeshare agreements between Korean and Virgin after Virgin formally joined SkyTeam on 2 March.

Virgin customers will from May be able to access onward connections to Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, Da Nag, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City thanks to the codeshare.

And from June, a further seven connections will be available through the codeshare – Hong Kong, Fukuoka, Kansai, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Tokyo Narita and Okinawa.

Elsewhere, Virgin will resume flying to Shanghai in May, while an expanded codeshare with IndiGo will provide connectivity options throughout India.

Virgin Atlantic chief commercial officer Juha Jarvinen said the carrier’s passengers would be able to benefit from Korean Air’s "extensive route network".

"Our enrolment into SkyTeam, of which Korean Air is a founding member, enhances customers’ benefits further. Our Flying Club members can enjoy SkyPriority benefits at both London Heathrow and Seoul Incheon as well as earning and redeeming miles across Korean Air’s network."