Australia has signed a new air services agreement with Korea, paving the way for a further 1,000 seats each week between the two countries.
Under the deal, Korean carriers will be able to operate up to 8,500 seats each way, each week to either Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth. Australian carriers also gain the right to operate an equivalent number of seats to and from Korea. Once airlines from either country have fully utilised the entitlement, a further increase of 1,000 seats will become available to both sides. Capacity will remain unrestricted at
Australia’s other international airports.
Australia’s other international airports.
Federal tourism Minister Fran Bailey said: “The extra 1,000 seats are necessary and I have no doubt will be quickly snapped up.”
A Korea Tourism Organisation spokeswoman told Travel Today “the lack of seat availability has always been an issue especially during peak holiday periods for Koreans coming here, so any increase is welcome”.
The number of Australians visiting Korea in the first half of 2007 grew 20.7% to 44,367. Korean visitors to Australia numbered 261,000 in 2006.
“Visitor arrivals from Korea are forecast to grow by 64% between 2006 and 2016 - and strong, flexible air services agreements will play a key part in enabling this growth,” Tourism and Transport Forum national aviation manager Dr Mark Dimech said.
