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Passenger demand at Incheon projected to rise just 2% this year

Published: 21 Apr. 2026, 17:38

Travelers stroll through Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport on March 23. [NEWS1]

Annual passenger demand at Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, is expected to grow by just 2 percent this year, the airport operator said Tuesday, citing ongoing external uncertainties such as rising oil prices linked to the Iran war.

The number of passengers in the first quarter of the year came to 19.78 million, up 7 percent from the same period last year, according to Incheon International Airport Corporation.

Total passenger demand is projected to rise from 73.56 million last year to 75.07 million this year, marking a modest 2 percent rise, the corporation said, pointing to factors such as war-related oil price hikes and flight cancellations.

In particular, some airlines have recently reduced routes to Southeast Asia amid the surge in oil prices. However, the corporation said the impact would be limited, as demand for routes to Japan and China remains strong.

It added that if the war is prolonged, the upward trend in passenger demand will slow further due to rising fuel surcharges and an economic downturn.

The corporation noted that passenger traffic on routes to Japan and China rose by 27.3 percent and 16.9 percent on year, respectively, in the first quarter, while routes to Southeast Asia and the Middle East saw declines of 27.3 percent and 1 percent.

Yonhap