Incheon, South Korea – Incheon International Airport has announced that it served a record-breaking 70,669,246 passengers in 2024, the highest number since its opening in 2001. The previous record was set in 2019, with 70,578,050 passengers, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This represents a 26.7% increase from the previous year and a slight 0.1% increase compared to 2019. When domestic flights are included, the total number of passengers reached 71,156,947, marking a 26.8% increase from 2023.
The surge in passenger numbers can be attributed to several factors, including increased travel during peak seasons like summer, Chuseok, and year-end holidays. Additionally, the weakening Japanese yen and a rise in transit passengers, particularly on Japan and North American routes, contributed to the record-breaking numbers.
Regional Breakdown Southeast Asia accounted for the largest share of passengers at 29.8%, followed by Japan (25.1%), China (14.3%), North America (9.3%), and Northeast Asia (9.2%). Notably, the Chinese market, which was the slowest to recover, saw a 74.2% rebound compared to 2019, matching the recovery rate of European routes.
Increased Flight Operations The airport also saw a record number of flight operations, with 408,726 flights in 2024, a 2.5% increase from the previous record set in 2019. This was driven by a 98.4% recovery in passenger flights compared to 2019, coupled with a 44.3% increase in cargo flights from pre-pandemic levels.
Transit Passengers and Cargo Transit passengers also increased to 8,234,722, a 14.3% rise from 2023 and a 98.2% recovery compared to 2019. This growth is attributed to the shift in travel patterns following the US-China trade tensions, which led to increased transit demand between China and North America via Incheon.
International cargo volume also grew by 7.4% to 2,946,898 tons, driven by increased e-commerce activity, strong export performance, and a rise in transshipment cargo between China and North America.
Optimistic Outlook Based on the strong growth in passenger demand, Incheon International Airport Corporation is forecasting a 3.3% increase in international passengers this year, reaching approximately 73 million.
"We are delighted to have achieved a record-breaking number of passengers last year," said Incheon International Airport Corporation President Lee Hak-jae. "With our expanded infrastructure, we are well-prepared to handle even more passengers and provide world-class services."
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