In November, Delta Air Lines teamed up with JA Korea - an international nonprofit dedicated to youth education - to host its career mentoring program for local high school students. 

On Friday, Nov. 22, students from Younghwa International Tourism High School visited Incheon Airport for a day of hands-on career development and a peek behind the curtain of running a global airline. The program included a tour of Delta’s office, check-in counters, and boarding gates, as well as an exclusive preview of the newly expanded area of Terminal 2, which officially opened Dec. 3.  

JA Korea, the Korean chapter of Junior Achievement Worldwide, operates in over 110 countries to help the next generation build essential workplace skills and foster social awareness. Delta collaborates with 30 JA branches globally to offer mentoring programs focused on aviation careers, workplace readiness, and entrepreneurship. In October of last year, Delta became the first airline to partner with JA Korea to deliver a youth mentoring program.

This year’s program gave students the opportunity to observe and take part in key airport operations, including check-in and passenger boarding, under the guidance of Delta employees. The hands-on approach aimed to inspire students to explore careers in aviation while gaining a deeper understanding of Delta’s work environment and operations.

“Partnering with JA Korea again to support local students is something we’re incredibly proud of,” said Jeff Moomaw, Vice President, Asia-Pacific at Delta Air Lines. “Programs like these gives us the chance to connect with the next generation and show them the exciting opportunities the aviation industry has to offer. Seeing their curiosity spark and their enthusiasm shine as they learn is always so rewarding.”

Soo-in Park, a sophomore from Younghwa International Tourism High School who participated in the program, reflected on her experience: “Meeting Delta employees and seeing what they do up close was eye-opening. Talking to the pilots was especially memorable—it gave me a better understanding of what their work involves.” She added, “This experience has definitely got me thinking about pursuing a career in aviation, maybe as part of the ground crew.”