The number of air passengers taking international flights in and out of South Korea grew about 2 percent in May from a year earlier as more holidays bolstered overseas travel, the Transportation Ministry said Tuesday.

Air passengers on international flights totaled 3.32 million last month, up 2.1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data by the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. The figure was the highest ever recorded in May.

The growth is attributed to increased holidays here and in other neighboring countries including China, which encouraged more people to travel across the borders, the ministry said.

Passengers taking domestic flights also grew as many local schools had field trips. About 2 million travelers flew domestically last month, up 3.4 percent from a year earlier.

Air cargo traffic, however, declined, affected by weak demand from Japan, which still is suffering from the impact of the March 11 deadly earthquake and resulting nuclear crisis. Air cargo traffic fell 8.7 percent on-year in May to 286,000 tons, according to the data. 

(Yonhap News)