Jeju Air's Southeast Asia Routes See 360,000 Foreign Passengers, Highest Since COVID-19

Thais Account for 21.4%, the Largest Share
Number of Filipino Passengers Grows Rapidly

Last year, the number of foreign passengers traveling between Korea and Southeast Asia on Jeju Air reached its highest level since the onset of COVID-19.

On January 28, Jeju Air announced that approximately 359,000 foreign passengers used its Korea-Southeast Asia routes last year.

This figure surpasses the 344,000 in 2023 and the 328,000 in 2024. In December alone, the airline recorded around 42,000 passengers, marking the highest monthly performance since the pandemic began.

Among foreign nationals, Thai passengers made up the largest group on Jeju Air’s Southeast Asia routes last year, accounting for 76,600 people, or 21.4% of all foreign passengers. They were followed by 68,200 from the Philippines, 34,300 from Vietnam, and 31,000 from the United States.

Growth among passengers from the Philippines was particularly notable. While there were about 42,000 Filipino passengers up to 2023, this number increased by approximately 62.5% last year. According to the Korea Tourism Organization, the rapid rise in travel demand from the Philippines was driven by economic growth after the pandemic, the popularity of Korean content, and eased visa requirements.

Among U.S. nationals, the number of passengers rose by 47% from 20,800 in 2023 to 31,000 last year. Of these, one out of every three used Jeju Air for transit to Southeast Asia.

The most popular Southeast Asia route among foreign passengers was the round-trip Incheon-Bangkok route, followed by Incheon-Manila, Busan-Bangkok, and Incheon-Hanoi.

A Jeju Air representative stated, "We are currently operating 21 Southeast Asia routes," adding, "We will continue to generate demand from foreign travelers by offering flexible schedules and reasonable fares."