[Financial News] For the first time in history, South Korea’s air traffic has surpassed 1 million flights annually last year. With the recovery of international flights gaining momentum, there is an anticipation of increased activity in the logistics and tourism industries.
On the 19th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that the total air traffic utilizing South Korea’s airspace last year amounted to over 1.01 million flights, a 6.8% increase compared to the previous year. This marks the first time that the annual count has exceeded 1 million, with an average of 2,778 flights traversing Korean airspace daily. Compared to the pre-COVID peak of approximately 840,000 flights in 2019, this represents an increase of about 20%.
The ministry attributed the increase in air traffic to a significant recovery and expansion in international flights. The international air traffic increased by 9.4% year-on-year, with an average of 2,160 flights daily. Routes to Southeast Asia and South China accounted for about 52% of all international flights, indicating a substantial rise in demand for short to medium-haul international routes.
In particular, international transit flights through Korean airspace increased by 21.0% compared to the previous year, highlighting South Korea’s strengthened strategic importance as a key aviation hub in Northeast Asia.
Conversely, domestic air traffic decreased by 1.6% to an average of 617 flights daily, likely due to increased demand for international travel, suggesting a gradual adjustment phase in domestic air traffic.
In terms of major airports, Incheon Airport recorded the most with an average of 1,193 flights daily (a 2.8% increase compared to the previous year), followed by Jeju Airport with 487 flights (a 0.4% decrease) and Gimpo Airport with 390 flights (a 0.2% decrease).
Yoo Kyung-soo, the Aviation Safety Policy Officer at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, “Global aviation demand is projected to continue growing in the medium to long term.” He added, “Stable growth in air traffic amidst this trend will be a crucial foundation for revitalizing industries such as logistics, tourism, and import-export, as well as the national economy.” He also emphasized, “We will continue to closely monitor air traffic trends and ensure safe and efficient use of airways for the public through diligent air traffic management.”