At the end of a three-day meeting Japanese and South Korean aviation transport officials reached a landmark decision to open up the skies over both countries, allowing carriers from both countries the freedom to increase flights as they wish.

The Japanese government via its 'Asia Gateway Plan' is aiming to remove restrictions on foreign airlines access to Japanese regional airports, thus boosting trade and tourism. "It will also help to spur greater liberalization within Asia, similar to the EU-US 'open skies' pact,” it said in a statement.

The two countries said they are keen to increase flights to accommodate the rising number of business and tourist taking shuttle flights, which currently totals 330 services per week from South Korea, and 92 services per week from Japan.

Under the agreement, with the exception of the already congested Tokyo airports, carriers may increase the number of passenger and cargo flights to their destinations without seeking government permission. Currently, Korean Air and Asiana fly to 26 cities in Japan, while ANA and Japan Airlines service seven cities in South Korea.

The landmark agreement opens up a potential passenger market of 300 million short-haul passengers, according to the Center for Asia Pacific Aviation. "The agreement can be expected to broaden in scope as more capacity becomes available at Narita and Haneda airports in the years ahead,” it said.

In 2003, Japan and South Korea started flights between Haneda in Tokyo and Gimpo in Seoul, both domestic airports.

The two countries are vying to become the North Asian aviation hub. South Korea wants to turn its Incheon International Airport into the region's aviation hub, while Japan will soon start shuttle flights from Haneda, Asia's busiest airport, to Shanghai in China.