Direct airline services between Korea and Iran will expand from four flights a week to 11, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced on July 12.

An agreement was reached recently between Korea’s Transport Ministry and Iran’s Office of Aviation as an update to the 1998 aviation agreement leading to the weekly operation of four passenger and cargo planes.

Last March, the South Korean government handed exclusive flight license to Korea’s no.1 airline operator, Korean Air to serve Incheon-Tehran routes and vice versa. However, through the updated agreement, more local air carriers, such as Asiana Airlines are expected to join in the service.

“As routes linking Korea and Iran expand, local tourists will also be able to travel in more convenience,” a ministry official said.

To further the negotiation, the list of cities that will serve as transit stops will expand to Beijing and Dubai. Codeshare agreements with foreign airlines are also under consideration.

By Korea Herald