International Passengers Exceed 1 Million for the First Time Since COVID-19... 420% Increase Compared to Same Month Last Year

1.28 Million International Passengers Used in June

The scene at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 arrivals hall on the 2nd of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international passengers exceeded 1 million.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Aviation Information Portal System on the 3rd, the total number of domestic and international passengers (including foreign airlines) last month was 4,601,758, an increase of 4.6% compared to the previous month.

The number of domestic passengers slightly decreased from 3,457,000 in May to 3,320,000 in June, but international passengers increased by 36%, from 941,000 in May to 1,280,000 in June. Compared to June last year, when international passengers numbered 246,000, this represents an increase of approximately 420%.

Last month marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that the monthly number of international passengers exceeded 1 million. International passengers have shown steady growth, with 411,000 in March, 650,000 in April, and 941,000 in May this year.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport lifted the hourly aircraft arrival slot restrictions and curfew at Incheon International Airport last month after 2 years and 2 months. Currently, Incheon Airport operates 24 hours a day as it did before the COVID-19 pandemic. Gimpo Airport also resumed flights on the Gimpo-Haneda route after 2 years and 3 months. Four airlines from Korea and Japan currently operate 8 flights per week, and the number of flights is expected to gradually increase to 84 per week, the level of 2019.

The Ministry plans to approve additional international flight increases without separate restrictions according to aviation demand. Accordingly, airlines are also increasing their international flight capacity. Korean Air plans to recover to 50% of pre-COVID-19 levels by September this year, and Asiana Airlines is expanding operations mainly on routes to the Americas and Europe. Low-cost carriers (LCCs), including Jeju Air, are also increasing the number of flights on short- to medium-haul routes such as Southeast Asia.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.