• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.135-154
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• 2007

The 3 Northeast Asian countries of Korea, Japan and China have been stricter to each other than to other countries of out-region in air liberalization. The prominent reason of this intra-regional protective policy in air transportation seems to be the difference in competitive strength of their national flag carriers. As the 3 countries realize the importance of their mutual cooperation in the region, since China grows to be one of the leading economies in the world and the intra-regional trade and visitors increase tremendously, they are now taking the policy of intra-regional air liberalization more vigorously than before. Especially air cargo liberalization is easier than air passenger liberalization because they realize that the development of open economy is based on free flow of logistics regardless of the competitiveness of their national flag carriers. As Korea is the leading country in the region to promote air liberalization, this paper reviews the importance and growing trend of air cargo, analyzes current air liberalization policy between Korea, Japan and China and the initial effects of open sky in the routes of Shandung-Korea, and suggests the new policies of air liberalization to promote free flow of air logistics.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.97-114
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• 2013

The 6th Worldwide Air Transport Conference was held in Montreal in March 2013 under the auspices of ICAO. This conference, which has been held every ten years, is dealing with virtually every issue of international air transport, and aiming at updating ICAO policy in order to ensure long-term growth of international civil aviation. Last conference which took place in 2003 focused on the liberalization of air transport, and the 6th conference shifted its focus from whether to push for liberalization, to how to implement it. The main agenda items for the 6th conference was liberalization, safeguards, ownership, fair competition, airports and air navigation facilities, charges, and ICAO policy. The liberalization, and in particular progressive liberalization has been a main theme over the past decades. In the process leading to liberalization, there needs to be the expansion of market access, easing regulation on ownership and control of airlines. Furthermore, the provision of enough infrastructure such as airport and air navigation facilities may be contributing factor to remove impediments to liberalization. However, out of concern as for undermining interests of consumer and the weak, when liberalization is proceeding in a sudden and radical manner, there should be safeguards so as to ensure market participation by developing countries, consumer protection, and economical and transparent decision on taxes and charges. Fair competition which differs from promoting competition in the market, is a policy in order to protect the weak players and consumers from monopoly and oligopoly. The Korean delegation submitted 3 WPs (WP/85, 86 and 87) and 1 IP, and presented WPs, at the conference, which were a lot compared with previous occasions. A paradigm shift was emphasized to expedite the process of liberalization at the 6th conference. The reality is that with many previous recommendations to stress the importance of liberalization, and to urge States to change their attitudes, the pace of the liberalization has been very slow and staggering. The liberalization of air transport will contribute to the growth of air transport and related industry, to create new employment, promoting tourism and regional development, and further to facilitating mutual understanding and exchange, which will also lead to making a barrier-free world. In this context, it is expected that the next conference will also evaluate the on-going process of liberalization.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.136-144
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• 2014

This paper studied what kind of effects were made through Open Sky agreement on Korea-China air transport market. To analyze the effects on air transport markets brought by liberalization, this paper studied transport volume, number of airlines, passenger and cargo and routes from 2000 to 2012 Korea-China aviation statistics. Liberalization of shandong and Hainan Provinces agreed in 2006 caused significant differences in frequencies, transport volume, and the number of routes for both passenger and cargo services between 2007 and 2008, as well as statistically significant effects. The analysis on the effect of Korea-China Open skies Agreement between 2000 and 2012 was no difference because the global financial crisis in September 2008.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.97-136
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• 2004

The Northeast Asian air cargo market has expanded tremendously as a result of the opening up of the Chinese market. The importance of the Asia-Pacific region in the global air transport has also increased. The exchange of human and material resources, services, and information in Northeast Asia, which is expected to increase in the near future, requires that the airlines operating within this region adopt a more liberalized approach. This paper introduced alternatives which can be applied to the Northeast Asian airlines industry so as to bring about the integration of regional air transport: First, this paper found a need for individual Northeast Asian nations to alter their policies towards the airlines industry. Second, each country should further liberalize their respective domestic air transport. Third, there is a need for freer air service agreements to be signed between the nations of Northeast Asia. Fourth, the strategic alliances between the airlines operating in Northeast Asia should be further strengthened. Fifth, this liberalization process should be carried out in an incremental manner, beginning with more competitive airports and routes, or with less-in-demand routes. Sixth, there is a need for a shuttle system to be put into place between the main airports in China, Korea, and Japan. Seventh, these three nations jointly develop aviation safety and security systems that are in accordance with international standards. Eighth, the liberalization process of the aviation industry should be undertaken in conjunction with other related fields. Ninth, organizations linking together civil aviation organization in the Asia-Pacific area should be formed, as should each government linking together. By doing so, these countries will be able to establish regular venues through which to exchange opinions on the integration and liberalization of the air cargo market so as to induce the gradual liberalization of the actual market. The liberalization of the air transport in Northeast Asia will prove to be a daunting task in the short term. However, if the Chinese airlines continue to exhibit continuous growth and Japanese airlines are able to complete their move towards a low-cost structure, this process could be completed earlier than expected. Over the last twenty five years the air transport has undergone tremendous changes. The most important factor behind these changes has been the increased liberalization of the market. As a result, rates have decreased while demand has increased. This has resulted in turning the air transport industry, which was long perceived as an industry in decline, into a high-growth industry. The only method of increasing regional exchanges in the air transport is to pursue further liberalization. The country which implements this liberalization process at the earliest date may very well emerge as a leading force within the air transport industry.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.69
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• pp.371-388
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• 2016

International air transport for cargo services is a facilitator for various trade sectors and, by itself, an important service industry. Although international air cargo industry is expected to grow continuously, industry stakeholders complain about legal constraints in the industry and demand more liberalized regime. From its birth at the beginning of the 20th century, the airline industry was tightly regulated by governments with a strong tradition of protectionism. In the past few decades, however, protectionism in the airline industry has steadily declined. Indeed, the airline industry is largely in the process of liberalization. Interestingly, it has been easier to liberalize air cargo service than passenger service. Indeed, states have traditionally shown far more willingness to provide market access for foreign carriers carrying cargo than passengers. Given the impact of air cargo service in a state's wider economy and own characteristics of cargo services (i.e. air cargo traffic is inherently one-way, unlike passenger traffic, which tends to involve round trips), more liberalized approach is necessary for air cargo services. Among three approaches: bilateral, regional (block-based) and multilateral, it is desirable to adopt a multilateral treaty (a new multilateral all-cargo agreement) so as to harmonize and simplify complicated trade regulations on air cargo services.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.32-39
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• 2007

Air Transportation industry becomes more competitive that the restriction on new access to market were eased and relaxed. Liberalization of international air transport will continue, via bilateral and multilateral process. Korea, Japan, and China have expanded enormously the economic trade and cultural exchange bilaterally in the Northeast Asia, they are acknowledging the importance and necessity of improved connection, it order to face effectively other regional blocks of US-Canada, NAFTA, ASEAN, CLMV. In particular, nobody denies that it is urgent to liberalize bilaterally the air transport in Northeast Asia for promoting reciprocal benefits and prosperity. Recently while open skies bilateral agreements was signed between Korea-China in June, 2006. The agreements processes are too heavily influenced by flag carriers; leading to capacity/market sharing between the bilateral carriers in most markets, against the interest of consumers and overall economic interest of the nation. For successful operation of Northeast Air Market, it is need to set up development strategy paradigm by creating cross-border sub-regional (Northeast Asian) open skies bloc as well as preparing and creating of LCCs operations.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.7
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• pp.151-175
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• 1995

In recent years, questions have arisen under several forms with respect to the need for adapting present legal order established under the Chicago Convention and relevant customary rules into newly developed environment surrounding the international air transport industry. Major feature of such trends included in opinions for modification of the present legal order might be defined as more liberalistic approach to this industry. In this respect, many scholars and lawyers in this field agree with a view that a theoretical tie between an aircraft/air liners and a register - State lies in political and strategical concern of the State so that each aircraft/air liners has been attributed a single nationality. In the context of such concern, each aircraft/air liners has been related with each register-State in the form of "genuine connection". However, present and near future development of air transport industry and its world - wide market requires some modification of such single nationality regime. Taking into account such circumstances, States as creator of present legal order are in the process of establishing new legal order where air liners with multi - nationality are capable of satisfying to such needs. As adopting a series of liberalization package for air transport industry in european continent, European Union adopts a concept of "community air carrier", by which an air space of each member State is open to each other, especially through the grant of cabotage right. A serious concern may arise in such grant because the Article 7 of the Chicago Convention prohibits such grant on an exclusive basis. While many theoretical opinions have been put forward concerning the interpretation of that article, a case of European Union shall be a good test of the range of its application. It is anticipated that future development around this issue shaH furnish us a major feature of the liberalization of international air transportation and an adaptation process of present legal order.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
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• v.26
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• pp.115-141
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• 2005

This study explores how strategic alliance activities are evolving and the factors that impact on the formation and development of airline alliances. Findings show the initiation of regional and more liberalized bilateral, or open skies, agreements have removed some of the impediments to structural changes in international aviation. Airlines in more liberal markets enter into greater numbers and more integrative forms of alliances. Also, airlines, on average, achieve better results of operation if the market is more liberal. Essentially, there is a positive relationship between the developments of alliances and the liberalization of air transport markets. It has been questioned that the US bilateral open skies agreements provide its carriers more access to the global market and countries that do not enter into such agreements with the US risk a loss of traffic. Consequently, open skies agreements may enable carriers who have the freedom to exercise market power to be dominant in the markets. This suggests that regulatory coordination and liberalization of international aviation reinforce each other and should therefore be pursued simultaneously.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aviation and Aeronautics
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-58
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• 2001

According to the liberalization of the air transport industry, the operation of airport also takes account of economic efficiency. The owners or the operators of an airport or airport systems want to know what is the best way to achieve the best performance in the aspect of economic efficiency and they are willing to improve the airport operation system. Prerequisite for the improvement of economic efficiency is to measure the performance of not only their own airports but the other airports. This study presents the result of performance measurement of Korean airports. The overall costs performance, labor productivity, capital productivity, revenue performance and profit performance are estimated and interpreted. As conclusions, the suggestion about airport system improvement is presented.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.93-125
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• 2011

The International Civil Aviation Convention (Chicago Convention) has been a backbone of international air transport system whereby air transport between States should be based on bilateral agreements, and in particular, international airfares, which are set up through IATA(International Air Transport Association) rate-fixing machinery could be approved by the governments concerned. International airfares are fares for transporting passenger and freight and their conditions between two or more countries. However, since U.S. pursued th deregulation policy in 1978 whereby routes, capacity and fares could be freely determined by airlines, many States have been following so called open-skies agreements. In many cases, aeronautical and competent authorities have been reviewing whether airlines' commercial activities including air fares could possibly conflict with free competition rules envisaged in relevant laws and regulations. As competition among airlines gets intense, airlines often resort to cooperation with other airlines in the forms such as equity exchange, M&A, code-sharing, fares consultation and resource pooling, mainly with a view to effectively use resources available and to avoid monopoly situation resulting from excessive and destructive competition among players. Whereas bearing in mind that application of competition laws is important to secure consumers' interests by preventing airlines's malpractices such as bargaining exorbitant fares, it is also important to comprehensively consider as many factors as possible, from that unilateral measure by governments may bring about retaliatory measures by the governments affected, to that airlines' cooperative practices may rather increase consumers' benefits by lowering air fares.