1. A government delegation of the Republic of Korea (joint delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport) attended the 8th International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Conference (from October 19 to 23, Turkey), and expanded air services between the ROK and eight countries through a series of bilateral meetings on air services.

o In an ROK-Austria meeting on air services, the two countries agreed on and initialed a new text for an overall revision to the bilateral air services agreement, and agreed to liberalize direct air services. This air service liberalization, which marks the second in Europe after Spain, is expected to further accelerate Korean airlines’ entry into the European aviation market by laying the foundation for air services without limits to the number of flights operated by airlines.

o In a meeting on air services between the ROK and Zimbabwe, which is famous for Victoria Falls, one of the three greatest waterfalls in the world, the two countries initialed a text for a conclusion of a bilateral air services agreement. The ROK helped expand the global aviation network on the African continent by agreeing to permit up to three direct flights per week.

o In an ROK-Mongolia meeting on air services, the two countries agreed on the types of airplanes (A320, A321, B737) to be operated on the Busan-Ulaanbaatar route, which they had agreed to create last year. As a result, it is predicted that Korean airlines will be able to offer flights between Busan and Ulaanbaatar from next summer.

o In addition, the ROK and Brunei, located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, agreed to increase the number of direct flights from two to five per week.

2. Besides, the ROK held bilateral meetings with Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Singapore and Finland, and explored ways to strengthen bilateral aviation cooperation by discussing various related issues, including revision of air services agreements and the number of flights permitted.

3. An official from the ROK government delegation said that the latest Air Services Negotiation Conference served as an opportunity to expand the aviation network connecting the ROK with Europe and Africa, and expected that Korean people will be able to enjoy more convenient air services.


*unofficial translation