Seoul Incheon Airport Sets New Passenger Record During Holiday Travel Surge

Seoul Incheon International Airport has recorded its busiest holiday period since opening, underscoring the continued recovery and expansion of outbound and inbound travel demand.

According to Incheon International Airport Corporation, a total of 1,386,057 passengers used the airport over the six-day period from February 13 to 18. Departing travelers accounted for 693,812 passengers, while 692,245 arrived in Korea. The daily average reached 231,010 passengers.

The figure represents a 5.5 percent increase compared with the previous holiday record set during last year’s Lunar New Year break, when the airport handled a daily average of 219,026 passengers.

The surge peaked on February 14, when 247,104 passengers passed through the airport in a single day, marking the highest daily traffic in the airport’s history. The previous daily record of 239,530 passengers had been set on January 4. Notably, February 13 had already seen 242,188 passengers, meaning the airport broke its all-time record on consecutive days.

This is also the first time since its opening that Incheon International Airport has exceeded an average of 240,000 passengers per day.

Industry observers say the milestone reflects strong outbound demand among Korean travelers as well as a steady recovery in inbound tourism. Airlines have expanded capacity on key short-haul routes across Asia, while long-haul services to North America and Europe continue to operate at high load factors.

Airport authorities are expected to further review operational efficiency, including security screening, immigration processing and baggage handling, to ensure service stability during future peak seasons.

With travel demand showing resilience even amid global economic uncertainty, the latest figures reinforce Incheon’s position as a leading aviation hub in Northeast Asia and signal continued growth in international passenger flows throughout 2026.