Japan has agreed to an open skies arrangement with Malaysia, deregulating flight services between Narita airport and the Southeast Asian country, the transport ministry said Friday.

The accord will in principle allow airlines to freely decide the number of flights and routes they operate between Narita International Airport and Malaysia from summer 2013, when the maximum quota of landings and takeoffs at Narita will be raised to 270,000 per year, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.

Malaysian carriers will also be able to fly more frequently to Narita if slots for landings and departures at the airport increase gradually before summer 2013, the ministry said.