Korea Airports Corporation "Domestic Passenger Numbers Surpass 70 Million for the First Time in 74 Years"

Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation, delivering a congratulatory speech at the event celebrating domestic passengers surpassing 70 million. Photo by Korea Airports Corporation

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Domestic air travel in South Korea has surpassed 70 million passengers annually. This is the first time in 74 years since civil aviation began in 1948.

Korea Airports Corporation announced on the 13th that the total number of domestic flight passengers at airports nationwide reached 70.69 million as of December 12, and it is expected to reach 74.51 million by the end of this year.

Domestic air passengers have shown steady growth at an average annual rate of 5.2% since 2010, driven by the expansion of low-cost carriers and the continuous increase in tourism demand to Jeju. This year’s passenger count grew by 12.3% compared to 66.32 million in 2019, before COVID-19.

Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju airports transported 85.4% of domestic passengers, creating a stable foundation for achieving the 70 million passenger milestone. Medium and small airports also played a significant role in the growth of domestic air travel, with Cheongju Airport reaching 3 million passengers annually and Yeosu Airport surpassing 1 million passengers for two consecutive years, showing a 20% increase in domestic passengers compared to 2019.

On the same day, Korea Airports Corporation held a commemorative event at Pohang Gyeongju Airport to thank the public and the aviation and tourism industries, who are the main contributors to reaching 70 million domestic air passengers annually. About 500 people attended, including Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation; Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang; Kim Ho-jin, Deputy Mayor of Gyeongju; Baek In-gyu, Chairman of Pohang City Council; Yoon Young-ho, Chairman of the Korea Tourism Association; and representatives from the domestic aviation and tourism sectors.

The event was held at Pohang Gyeongju Airport, which recently changed its name as the first airport in the country to promote domestic tourism and is experiencing rapid growth. This year, Pohang Gyeongju Airport saw a 60% increase in passengers compared to the previous year by integrating tourism demand from Pohang and Gyeongju.

Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation, said, “Achieving 70 million passengers amid the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 was possible thanks to the dedicated efforts of the aviation and tourism industry stakeholders and the public who use the airports.” He added, “The corporation will continue to devote all its capabilities to marketing and route development to open the era of 100 million air passengers.”

The corporation has expanded domestic routes from 21 before COVID-19 to 27 by discovering new routes such as Gimpo-Muan, Muan-Ulsan, Yangyang-Yeosu, Gimpo-Yangyang, Gwangju-Yangyang, and Daegu-Yangyang, in addition to revitalizing existing routes to promote regional economic activation and balanced regional development centered on airports. It also led the record-breaking number of domestic passengers by implementing promotions such as “Gyeongju School Trip Restart” and “Travel Month Airfare Discount Event.”

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