The number of passengers traveling via Incheon International Airport has rebounded to 77.9 percent of the pre-pandemic level this year, data showed Sunday.

A total of 49.97 million travelers flew via the airport, west of Seoul, during the first 11 months of 2023, which represents 77.9 percent of the 64.17 million passengers during the same period of 2019, according to the data compiled by the transport ministry.

Around 56 million air passengers are expected to use the airport by the end of this year, or a recovery of 78.6 percent of the corresponding 2019 level, and Incheon International Airport Corp. forecast a full-scale recovery next year.

Of the major regional airports in South Korea, which included the Incheon airport, Cheongju International Airport in North Chungcheong Province logged the highest recovery rate of 89.3 percent with 420,618 travelers during the Jan.-Nov. period.

The volume of passengers traveling via Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul came to 2.88 million this year as of November, or 73.9 percent of the 2019 level, the data showed.

"The Gimpo airport is more dependent on travelers from China, and the China-bound routes have not been fully recovered," a Korea Airport Corp. official said. "The level is expected to rise to around 75 percent by year-end." (Yonhap)