South Korea's second-largest carrier Asiana Airlines Inc. said on March 11 that it has agreed with Shenzhen Airlines Co. of China to operate code-shared flights on the Seoul-Shenzhen route in anticipation of rising demand.

The agreement, which will take effect on March 30, allows the two airlines to offer seven weekly flights on the route, Asiana Airlines said in a statement.

Starting March 30, Asiana Airlines and Qatar Airways Co. also plan to increase code-shared flights from their current six times a week to seven on the route between Incheon, the main gateway to South Korea located west of Seoul, and Doha, Qatar, the South Korean carrier said.

Asiana Airlines has been in negotiations with another Chinese carrier Shanghai Airlines Co. to provide code-sharing services, the airline said.

Code-sharing allows one carrier to sell its tickets on the other's flights in order to boost revenue by increasing passenger numbers and destinations.