Yeosu Airport Surpasses 1 Million Annual Passengers for 2 Consecutive Years

Surpassing 1 Million Visitors for the First Time Since Last Year's Opening, Achieving 1 Million for Two Consecutive Years

Gateway Airport of Eastern Jeonnam... A Result of Joint Efforts by Political Circles, Local Governments, Related Organizations, and Resident Groups

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] Jeonnam Yeosu City (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong) announced that Yeosu Airport, operated by Korea Airports Corporation (President Yoon Hyung-joong), has achieved an annual passenger count of 1 million for two consecutive years as of the 15th.

Yeosu Airport held a commemorative event on this day to express gratitude to related organizations and offer consolation to residents affected by noise pollution.

The event was attended by Lee Mi-ae, Vice President of Korea Airports Corporation, Kim Young-gyu, Chairman of Yeosu City Council, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly members, local institution heads, related organization leaders, and resident representatives. All gathered with one heart to celebrate Yeosu Airport’s great achievement and to wish for a new leap forward.

Lee Mi-ae, Vice President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, “Next year, in preparation for the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, we will create a safer and more convenient airport environment, continuously promote the revitalization of Yeosu Airport through the implementation of the parking lot expansion project, and the introduction and increase of low-cost carriers.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Yeosu Airport recorded about 635,000 passengers in 2019, 657,000 in 2020, and last year, for the first time since its opening in 1972, surpassed 1 million passengers, achieving 1.16 million passengers (a 70% increase compared to the previous year), raising high expectations for 2022.

However, the path to reaching 1 million annual passengers for two consecutive years was by no means smooth.

Due to the increase in overseas travel demand from the activation of international flights related to the endemic, domestic demand began to shrink, naturally leading to obstacles such as domestic flight reductions by airlines operating at Yeosu Airport.

Despite these difficulties, Yeosu Airport has continuously cooperated with local political circles, local governments, and related organizations to achieve the introduction of a new Yangyang route, secure additional financial support for airlines, the decision by Jin Air to launch a new Jeju route, and raise local interest in airport revitalization. Through these efforts, it is expected that the cumulative number of passengers will reach about 1.02 million by the end of the year.

Since the commencement of civil aviation in 1948, Yeosu Airport, which has witnessed the historic milestone of surpassing 70 million domestic air passengers annually after 74 years, is expected to continue playing an important role in revitalizing local tourism in connection with the ‘World’s Most Beautiful Bay’ World Congress to be held in Yeosu next year and the Suncheonman International Garden Expo held in Suncheon.

A city official said, “Yeosu Airport has established itself as the wings of Yeosu, a global city expanding worldwide,” adding, “We will continue to work with the province to provide administrative and financial support without hesitation to revitalize Yeosu Airport.”

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon hss79@asiae.co.kr

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