By Chung Ah-young
Korean Air has won the right to operate direct flights between Korea and Iran, beating rival Asiana Airlines.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday that its review committee has decided to grant permission to operate four flights per week to Korean Air.
Following the decision, the carrier has one year to start operating the flights to the Persian nation. It also must decide whether to operate passenger or cargo flights or both.
The direct flights are expected to reduce travel time from the current 16-20 hours via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Egypt to 10 hours.
The new air route came as the demand for visiting the country is expected to grow following the opening of the Iranian market in the wake of lifting of international sanctions against the Middle Eastern country in January.
"The new air route is expected to play a crucial role to boost business cooperation between the two countries, helping Korean companies make inroads into the country, as Iran has been a strategic partner with Korea since the 1970s with its abundant industrial potential in the Middle Eastern region," the ministry said in a statement.
Although Seoul and Teheran agreed to four weekly flights in 1998, the flights were rarely operated due to lack of demand and sanctions on the country. That agreement is still effective.
There have been no passenger flights operated by the nation's flagship carrier between the two countries.
In 1976, Korean Air ran a cargo flight once to Iran. Iran's Mahan Air operated a passenger flight between Tehran and Seoul via Bangkok once a week in 2001, but halted operations after six months. Iran Air also launched a passenger flight between Tehran and Seoul via Beijing in December 2002, but suspended the flights in October 2007 due to the U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Currently, Korean Air operates five routes to four Middle Eastern countries ― the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt ― while Asiana has none.
Korean Air has won the right to operate direct flights between Korea and Iran, beating rival Asiana Airlines.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday that its review committee has decided to grant permission to operate four flights per week to Korean Air.
Following the decision, the carrier has one year to start operating the flights to the Persian nation. It also must decide whether to operate passenger or cargo flights or both.
The direct flights are expected to reduce travel time from the current 16-20 hours via the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or Egypt to 10 hours.
The new air route came as the demand for visiting the country is expected to grow following the opening of the Iranian market in the wake of lifting of international sanctions against the Middle Eastern country in January.
"The new air route is expected to play a crucial role to boost business cooperation between the two countries, helping Korean companies make inroads into the country, as Iran has been a strategic partner with Korea since the 1970s with its abundant industrial potential in the Middle Eastern region," the ministry said in a statement.
Although Seoul and Teheran agreed to four weekly flights in 1998, the flights were rarely operated due to lack of demand and sanctions on the country. That agreement is still effective.
There have been no passenger flights operated by the nation's flagship carrier between the two countries.
In 1976, Korean Air ran a cargo flight once to Iran. Iran's Mahan Air operated a passenger flight between Tehran and Seoul via Bangkok once a week in 2001, but halted operations after six months. Iran Air also launched a passenger flight between Tehran and Seoul via Beijing in December 2002, but suspended the flights in October 2007 due to the U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Currently, Korean Air operates five routes to four Middle Eastern countries ― the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Egypt ― while Asiana has none.
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