Nationality requirements on flights between S. Korea, EU to be lifted in Nov.

Airlines of South Korea and European Union member states will be allowed to operate without restrictions on their nationality requirements starting next month under a new aviation accord, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday.

South Korea and 22 EU member states signed a horizontal aviation agreement in June 2020, which goes into effect Monday, the foreign ministry said.

The horizontal accord will ease nationality requirements for airlines to allow any EU member states to operate on the routes between the two sides, it noted.

Currently, air carriers are allowed to fly to South Korea from the countries to which they belong under bilateral aviation agreements. For example, Deutsche Lufthansa AG is required to take off from Germany, not other countries, to reach South Korea.

The ministry said it expects the new aviation accord to increase flights between South Korea and the EU, and give a wider range of options for passengers. (Yonhap)