Korean Air will expand its codeshare arrangement with China Southern and China Eastern from October 28, to include all routes connecting Korea and mainland China operated by KAL and either of the Chinese carriers.

Last year, Korean Air proclaimed China as its second home market. Putting substance to this claim, eight of the 17 new routes inaugurated in 2006 were bound for China.

It is expected that the aviation market in China, where the 2008 Olympic Games will be hosted, will see tremendous growth in terms of both passenger and freight.

This will be enhanced by bilateral agreement between Korea and China to gradually open skies between the two countries.

The Korean carrier currently operates passenger flights to 21 destinations in mainland China, and Zhengzhou will be added in September.