This year, until last month, the number of passengers using Japanese air routes reached 9 million, a record high. This figure surpasses the number from before the pandemic in 2019, including last year's surge in Japanese travelers due to the 'yen depreciation phenomenon'. It appears that the demand for travel, focused on smaller cities, has continued to increase despite the rise in the value of the yen.
According to the industry on the 7th, from January to April this year, the number of passengers using Japanese routes at domestic airports reached 9 million. Data submitted by Democratic Party of Korea legislator Lee Yeon-hee's office to the Incheon International Airport Corporation and Korea Airport Service indicate that during this period (with Incheon Airport's cumulative data from January 1 to April 28), a total of 8,881,95 passengers used Japanese routes at domestic airports (including arrivals and departures).
The average daily number of passengers using Japanese routes at Incheon Airport is around 49,000. Considering that the 29th and 30th, which are not included in the statistics, were right before a holiday, it is estimated that the total number of users until the end of last month exceeded 9 million. This is an 8.8% increase compared to the same period last year when there were 8,160,000 users, marking the highest record ever. Compared to the same period in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic (7,640,000), it is a 16.2% increase.
According to the industry, demand for travel has increased not only in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, but also in smaller cities such as Matsuyama, Shizuoka, and Oita, prompting airlines to expand routes in collaboration with Japanese local governments. Additionally, the growing number of travel promotions reflecting individual travel demand has contributed to the increase in travelers.
In particular, the won-yen exchange rate has consistently risen this year, surpassing 1,000 won, but analysis shows that many travelers have opted not to cancel their trips; instead, they have monitored exchange rate trends and exchanged money in advance during lower rates or reduced local spending.
The number of passengers on routes to China from January to April this year was recorded at 4,799,674. Incheon Airport accounted for 3,565,000, while the remaining airports collectively had 1,234,000. This represents a 21.6% increase compared to the same period last year (3,950,000). It is the largest figure since the same period in 2019 (5,650,000).
According to the industry, the increase in travelers has continued since the Korean government received visa waivers from the Chinese government in November last year. Demand surged even during the traditional off-season winter, with a concentration of travelers in March, the peak season.
Meanwhile, as the number of passengers on routes to Japan and China has increased further this year, other medium- to long-haul international routes have seen only slight increases in passengers or a decrease. For instance, at Incheon Airport, the North American route recorded 2,090,000, an 8.9% increase compared to the previous year, while Europe saw 1,365,000, an increase of 1.7%. In contrast, Southeast Asia declined by 3.4% to 7,064,000, and Oceania decreased by 14.1% to 847,000.