S. Korea, Kazakhstan agree to expand bilateral flights

South Korea and Kazakhstan have agreed to expand the number of flights on their bilateral routes, paving the way for increased passenger travel and cargo deliveries, the transport ministry said Friday. Under the existing bilateral aviation deal, Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest full-service carrier, had the transportation rights to operate 1,450 seats per week on the Incheon-Almaty route, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Kazakh national carrier Air Astana also had the right to operate the same 1,450 seats on the same route on a weekly basis. But the new agreement will initially allow Asiana and Air Astana to operate 14 flights a week on the route, respectively, which the ministry expects will significantly promote the convenience of travelers and bilateral business ties, a ministry official said over the phone. The two countries have also agreed to lift the ban on the number of destinations and the number of carriers in each other's country. In Korea, bu dget carrier T'way Air Co. has been designated as another airline which can offer flights on the route depending on future market demands, the official said. On the cargo side, airlines from the two countries will have the right to transport a total of 20 times of cargo deliveries a week, respectively, he said. Source: Yonhap News Agency