Korean Air plans to start fl ights to Johannesburg in South Africa and Sao Paulo in Brazil as it expands into emerging economies to tap the air transport growth, the Korean Herald reported. The Seoul-based carrier aims to start services within a year of getting approval from the governments, Park Yong-soon, Korean Air’s managing vice president ofinternational affairs and alliance, said.

"Our government will have talks with the two countries and according to the traffi c rights that we obtain, we are going to start services," said Park. Starting new routes may help Korean Air to bolster growth in sales after lagging behind rival airlines in the region, including China Airlines and Cathay Pacifi c Airways. Economic growth in South Korea, Asia’s third-largest economy, is increasing air transport demand.