Korean Air set to lose monopoly over Mongolia route

Korean Air will lose its monopoly over an air route linking Incheon and Mongolia's capital of Ulaanbaatar as the government plans to allow Asiana Airlines or a low-cost carrier to operate on the lucrative route, according to industry officials Tuesday. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is expected to grant a new license on the Incheon-Mongolia air route this month, and Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, T'way Air and Eastar Jet are vying to win it. The route has been monopolized by Korean Air for nearly 30 years due to the two countries' 1991 aeronautical agreement allowing only one carrier from each country to provide air travel service. From Mongolia, MIAT Mongolian Airlines is operating flights to Incheon. Due to their monopolization, criticisms have been raised that ticket prices were too expensive compared to other routes with similar flight hours, and the number of available seats was insufficient. <br/>