S.Korea, Indonesia agree to free up flight routes

South Korea and Indonesia have agreed to allow unrestricted flight operations between their regional airports.

This announcement, made by Seoul's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Friday, marks a significant advancement in the aviation sector for both countries.

The agreement, reached during bilateral talks on Wednesday, opens up air travel between six regional cities in each country.

This means airlines can now operate without restrictions between Korean cities such as Busan, Daegu, Cheongju, Jeju, Muan and Yangyang, and Indonesian cities including Batam, Manado, Lombok, Yogyakarta, Balikpapan and Kertajati.

The deal also introduces new direct flight routes from Korea's Incheon to Indonesia's Batam and Manado, enhancing connections between Korea's regional cities and Jakarta and Bali.

An integral part of this agreement is the allowance for airlines from both countries to enter into code-sharing agreements for flights to Bali, a popular tourist destination in Indonesia. 

The Ministry highlighted the importance of this agreement in eliminating the current inconvenience of having to fly out solely from Incheon for direct flights to Indonesia.

It's expected to significantly boost the functionality of regional airports in Korea, promoting tourism and offering broader travel options to travelers from both nations.

Write to In-Hyeok Lee at twopeople@hankyung.com