Busan is good

Gimhae International Airport Sets a New Record as International Passenger Numbers Surpass 10 Million for the First Time

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□ Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that, as of today (the 19th), the number of international passengers using Gimhae International Airport has surpassed 10 million.
○ This marks the highest figure since the airport opened in 1976, exceeding the previous record of 9.87 million international passengers set in 2018, and represents the first time any regional airport in Korea has achieved this milestone.
○ Weekly flight operations currently total 1,546 flights serving 42 cities, an increase of approximately 118 percent compared to 1,306 flights to 41 cities at the end of 2018, setting a new all-time high and signifying a full recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels.
○ This achievement is the result of a one-team effort involving Busan Metropolitan City, Korea Airports Corporation’s Gimhae International Airport, and related local institutions.

□ To strengthen Gimhae International Airport’s status as an international gateway and achieve a full recovery of international passenger traffic to pre-COVID-19 levels, the city has worked to establish new mid- and long-haul direct routes from Busan. At the same time, it has focused its full administrative capacity on securing additional customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ: Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) personnel by submitting proposals to central government ministries and the National Assembly, ensuring that the airport’s International Terminal Expansion Facility can handle its planned capacity smoothly.
○ As part of these efforts, during the eighth popularly elected administration, the city launched new mid- and long-haul routes, including the Busan–Bali route, which began service on October 30 last year (2024) as the first long-haul direct route departing from Busan and the first such route initiated by a local government. This route alone carries approximately 67,000 passengers annually.
○ This year, the city also introduced two mid- and long-haul direct routes to Central Asia—Busan–Tashkent and Busan–Almaty—the first of their kind at any regional airport in Korea, transporting around 10,000 passengers bound for Central Asia and helping reduce inconvenience for residents who would otherwise need to use Incheon International Airport.
○ In addition, after sustained efforts that included five formal requests to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety this year and more than ten visits to the offices of local National Assembly members, the city succeeded in securing 21 additional CIQ personnel for 2026 (14 from the Korea Customs Service and 7 from the Ministry of Justice), addressing a long-standing challenge associated with the newly established arrivals area of the International Terminal Expansion Facility.
○ Furthermore, CIQ agencies have flexibly adjusted operating hours at existing arrivals facilities and, starting December 12, have begun early operation of the newly constructed second departure hall during peak hours (7:00–10:00 a.m.), which is expected to significantly enhance international passenger processing capacity during the year-end period and the Lunar New Year holiday season.

□ Meanwhile, to commemorate the milestone of surpassing 10 million international passengers, a “Gimhae International Airport International Passenger 10 Million Milestone Ceremony” will be held today (the 19th) at 10:00 a.m. in the first-floor public lobby of the airport’s International Terminal Expansion Facility, hosted by Korea Airports Corporation.
○ Attendees will include the head of Korea Airports Corporation’s Gimhae International Airport, members of the National Assembly, the director of the Busan Regional Aviation Administration, the commander of the Republic of Korea Air Force’s 5th Air Mobility Wing, the head of the city’s New Airport Promotion Headquarters, the chair of the Busan Metropolitan Council’s Construction and Transportation Committee, heads of CIQ agencies, CEOs of airlines operating at Gimhae International Airport, aviation industry workers, and citizens.
○ The ceremony will feature a celebratory performance, a progress report, a performance event, an awards ceremony, and a special event honoring the 10 millionth passenger. In particular, awards will be presented by officials at the level of the Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City, the Director of the Busan Regional Aviation Administration, and the Head of Gimhae International Airport to recognize individuals who have contributed to the full recovery of international passenger services and the revitalization of the airport.

□ Heo Nam-sik, Head of the New Airport Promotion Headquarters of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “As our city has set a goal of welcoming five million foreign tourists by 2028, we will continue to concentrate our administrative efforts on expanding air connectivity through the launch of diverse international direct routes at Gimhae International Airport and ensuring smooth passenger processing without inconvenience.”
○ He added, “Becoming the first regional airport in Korea to surpass 10 million international passengers is clear evidence that Busan is an attractive city sought out by people from around the world, and it also serves as an important foundation for generating air travel demand for Gadeokdo New Airport.” He further emphasized, “In preparation for growing aviation demand and to complete Busan’s transformation into a global hub city, we will also focus on the early opening of Gadeokdo New Airport.”