Korea has agreed on an open-skies accord with Spain in an effort to meet growing demand for the transportation of passengers and cargo, government officials said yesterday.

Under the agreement, Korean airlines will be allowed to fly an unlimited number of times per week to any city in Spain, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.

Korean airlines are currently allowed to offer flights to only Madrid and Barcelona, with the number of flights limited to four a week. Korean Air, Korea’s top air carrier, offers three weekly flights to Madrid.

Spain has become the first European country to reach such an accord with Seoul.

The agreement is widely expected to pave the way for Korean airlines to expand their flight services to southern European nations, the ministry said.

Source: Yonhap News (May 9, 2011)