According to aviation statistics from the Korea Airports Corporation released on April 10, Cheongju Airport handled 1,357,849 passengers in Q1 — a 44.3% increase from 940,906 during the same period last year.
By month, the airport recorded 480,485 passengers in January, 436,833 in February and 440,531 in March.
Each of those monthly totals represented roughly a 40% year-over-year increase.
The surge was most pronounced on international routes.
International passenger numbers reached 656,302 in the first quarter, up 67.6% from 391,569 a year earlier, while domestic travel rose 27.7% to 701,547.
However, officials warn that growth could slow after this month due to external factors.
Tensions in the Middle East have pushed up fuel surcharges and exchange rates, increasing travel costs, and some carriers’ route adjustments are expected to reduce flight frequencies.
Chungbuk provincial authorities say they are reviewing support measures to respond to changing air-travel demand and help sustain the upward trend.
