[비즈한국] A path is set to open for direct flights from regional airports in Korea to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a global aviation hub. Additionally, an aviation agreement has been signed with the Dominican Republic, which is expected to diversify flight routes to Central and South America.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 23rd that they had established four weekly air transport rights exclusively for South Korean regional airports to the UAE at ICAN (ICAO Air Services Negotiation Event) 2025. These transport rights allow for flights from any regional airport in South Korea to any airport in the UAE.
Previously, the transport rights for the Korea-UAE route were limited to 21 flights per week, with the Incheon-Dubai route operated by Korean Air (7 flights per week) and Emirates (10 flights per week), while the Abu Dhabi route was operated by Etihad Airways (11 flights per week). With this expansion of transport rights, the launch of new direct Middle East routes from domestic regional airports is anticipated.
The UAE is considered a global aviation hub connecting to Europe and Africa. According to the 2025 World Airport Traffic Report released by Airports Council International (ACI), Dubai International Airport recorded the highest number of international passengers in the world as of 2024.
Many people from South Korea visit the UAE as a layover destination for long-haul flights to Europe or Africa, or as a tourist destination. Furthermore, the UAE is a key partner for South Korea in sectors such as construction and energy infrastructure.
Over the past three years, the government has been expanding aviation routes by establishing transport rights exclusively for regional airports to countries including Turkey, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, and Poland.
Cha Sang-heon, Director of the International Air Transport Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We plan to provide prompt support for relevant permits and approvals when airlines apply for operation on regional-UAE routes. We will continue to improve travel convenience for residents in regional areas by establishing new transport rights dedicated to regional airports, and we will strive to expand diverse emerging route networks, including to secondary cities in Europe and Central and South America."
The government also announced that it reached an agreement to sign an aviation treaty with the Dominican Republic at ICAN. Once both countries complete their domestic procedures to finalize the treaty, it will become the tenth aviation agreement signed with a Central or South American nation. The government expects this to serve as a foundation for expanding aviation cooperation with Central and South American countries, where direct flights from South Korea are currently rare.
Lee Song-joo, Director of the Economic Agreement and Norms Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, "We will continue to actively conduct negotiations with countries that have not yet signed aviation treaties to expand the legal basis for air transport and broaden our network for human and material exchange."