Korean air traffic nears pre-Covid levels, yet hurdles remain on key routes

Last year’s air traffic over Korean skies almost caught up to its pre-pandemic level in 2019, but travel through Chinese and European routes have been slow to catch up.

Pictured is an aircraft from Korea's flag carrier Korean Air taking off at an unspecified airport. [KOREAN AIR]

Last year’s air traffic over Korean skies almost caught up to its pre-pandemic level in 2019, but travel through Chinese and European routes have been slow to catch up.

Flights over Korea's territorial airspace increased by 44.6 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Friday. Over 780,635 planes flew over Korea’s airspace last year, for an average of 2,139 planes in a day.

The number of flights has recovered to 92.7 percent of pre-Covid numbers, with domestic flights at 95.4 percent and international flights at 91.6 percent of 2019 figures.

Since August, air traffic has been rising strongly, with the average number of flights in a day exceeding the daily average in 2019, which was 2,307 flights. Air traffic volume is calculated based on flight plans submitted to the Transport Ministry by all domestic and foreign aircraft operators, including those for aircraft carriers and non-carriers.

Air traffic to and from Southeast Asia and south China was the busiest in 2023, with flights through those routes taking up 48 percent of all flights bound to or leaving Korea.[LEE JEONG-MIN]

The increase in flights connecting mid to short routes between Southeast Asia, south China and Japan in 2023 doubled the average number of international flights per day compared to last year. The Southeast Asia and south China routes had the most air traffic, making up 48 percent of all international flights.

Yet air traffic in Chinese and European air routes has been slow to recover.

“Many Chinese routes have not yet resumed operations due to various reasons, and both domestic and overseas airlines have not been able to increase supply for European routes,” said Kwak Young-pil, the head of the Transport Ministry’s air transportation team. He also says that it has not been easy to secure aircraft or recruit pilots and personnel for maintenance after the pandemic.

Among Korea’s major airports, traffic increased for Incheon International Airport, Gimhae International Airport, Cheongju International Airport and Daegu International Airport. The increase rate was 82.7 percent, 43.2 percent, 31.0 percent and 22.2 percent for the airports, respectively.

The Transport Ministry attributes the increase to the “pent-up effect,” which refers to a rapid increase in demand for service following a period of subdued spending caused by restrictions from outside sources.

On the other hand, air traffic from and to Jeju International Airport and Gimpo International Airport fell by 1.2 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively, due to the drop in demand for domestic flights.

Yeosu Airport, Ulsan Airport and Pohang Gyeongju Airport — airports that only operate domestic flights — also saw decreased traffic. Air traffic for domestic flights, which reached a record high in 2022, decreased by 11 percent on-year in 2023 due to travelers instead opting to go overseas.

“Though it may change depending on unclear external affairs such as global disputes, we expect the traffic to be at an all-time high this year,” said Jeong Yong-sik, the Transport Ministry’s director general for aviation policy. “We will strive to continuously and closely monitor fluctuations in air traffic volume to provide safe and efficient air travel services.”

BY KANG KAP-SAENG [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]