Key facts
- International flight passengers using South Korean airports rose 9.8% in Jan-Aug.
- 68.44 million people used international flights in the first eight months.
- Demand for flights to Japan and China increased due to the yen's weakness and China's visa-free program.
- Transit passengers at Incheon International Airport increased due to the Middle East war.
- Travel to Japan rose 20.3% and to China increased 23%.
- Travel to Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam and the Philippines, declined.
The number of international flight passengers using South Korean airports increased by 9.8% in the first eight months of 2026 compared to the previous year, reaching 68.44 million people. This growth occurred despite a significant rise in oil prices, which typically impacts travel costs. Experts attribute the surge in demand to the weakness of the Japanese yen and China's visa-free program for Korean nationals, which boosted travel to and from those countries. Additionally, transit passenger numbers at Incheon International Airport saw an increase amid the ongoing Middle East war. Flights connecting South Korea and Japan saw a 20.3% year-on-year rise to 21.3 million travelers, while routes to China increased by 23% to 13.6 million. In contrast, travel to Southeast Asian nations experienced a decline, with flights to Vietnam falling 5.1% to 6.63 million and to the Philippines decreasing by 13.7% to 2.5 million. An industry watcher suggested that shorter flight times to Japan and China, compared to Southeast Asia, made them more attractive options for travelers as fuel surcharges increased.