Yeosu Airport Maintains Growth Trend Amid Nationwide Decrease in Domestic Air Traffic
- Date
- 2026.03.19 09:53
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- 여수시청
Records 14,302 flights, a 1.3% increase year-on-year... Full-scale push for upgrade to an international airport
Yeosu City announced that Yeosu Airport has maintained a growth trend even as nationwide domestic air traffic has decreased.
According to the '2025 Air Traffic Volume Statistics' released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on the 19th, nationwide air traffic exceeded 1 million flights for the first time in history, marking a 6.8% increase year-on-year. While international flights drove the overall upward trend, domestic flights showed a contrasting trend, decreasing by 1.6%.
Despite these conditions, Yeosu Airport recorded a total of 14,302 flights last year, averaging 39 flights per day, which represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Despite being a domestic-focused airport, it continued its growth trend—unlike the nationwide decline—confirming its stable operational foundation and growth potential as a regional hub airport.
Currently, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Jin Air operate out of the airport, servicing two domestic routes to Gimpo and Jeju.
However, although domestic international flight traffic has been rapidly recovering and expanding since COVID-19, Yeosu Airport is unable to operate international flights due to policy and facility limitations, leaving it completely unable to enjoy the effects of this increased demand.
In response to the mid-to-long-term growth trend of global aviation demand, Yeosu City is pushing to expand its current 2,100-meter runway to 3,200 meters and upgrade the facility to an international airport. To achieve this, the city has continuously submitted proposals to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Jeollanam-do, and other entities, and plans to cooperate closely with relevant agencies.
A city official stated, "It is a meaningful achievement that Yeosu Airport has maintained its growth trend even under challenging conditions in the domestic aviation market." The official added, "We will continue to actively respond to leap forward as a hub airport on the South Coast by stabilizing domestic flights and pushing for an upgrade to an international airport."
Meanwhile, to ensure aviation safety at Yeosu Airport, MOLIT completed the removal of concrete mounds and the improvement of azimuth facilities last year. This year, it plans to promote projects to install a bird detection radar system and expand the Runway End Safety Area (RESA).
Yeosu City announced that Yeosu Airport has maintained a growth trend even as nationwide domestic air traffic has decreased.
According to the '2025 Air Traffic Volume Statistics' released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on the 19th, nationwide air traffic exceeded 1 million flights for the first time in history, marking a 6.8% increase year-on-year. While international flights drove the overall upward trend, domestic flights showed a contrasting trend, decreasing by 1.6%.
Despite these conditions, Yeosu Airport recorded a total of 14,302 flights last year, averaging 39 flights per day, which represents a 1.3% increase from the previous year. Despite being a domestic-focused airport, it continued its growth trend—unlike the nationwide decline—confirming its stable operational foundation and growth potential as a regional hub airport.
Currently, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Jin Air operate out of the airport, servicing two domestic routes to Gimpo and Jeju.
However, although domestic international flight traffic has been rapidly recovering and expanding since COVID-19, Yeosu Airport is unable to operate international flights due to policy and facility limitations, leaving it completely unable to enjoy the effects of this increased demand.
In response to the mid-to-long-term growth trend of global aviation demand, Yeosu City is pushing to expand its current 2,100-meter runway to 3,200 meters and upgrade the facility to an international airport. To achieve this, the city has continuously submitted proposals to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Jeollanam-do, and other entities, and plans to cooperate closely with relevant agencies.
A city official stated, "It is a meaningful achievement that Yeosu Airport has maintained its growth trend even under challenging conditions in the domestic aviation market." The official added, "We will continue to actively respond to leap forward as a hub airport on the South Coast by stabilizing domestic flights and pushing for an upgrade to an international airport."
Meanwhile, to ensure aviation safety at Yeosu Airport, MOLIT completed the removal of concrete mounds and the improvement of azimuth facilities last year. This year, it plans to promote projects to install a bird detection radar system and expand the Runway End Safety Area (RESA).
