Korea ranked world’s 6th in air traffic for the decade

According to a recently released annual report (Annual Report of the Council 2010) of ICAO, Korea posted record high air traffic performance, ranking 6th in the world for the first time since 2000, thanks to positive economic growth worldwide and improved consumer sentiment for air travel.

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM, Minister Do-Youp Kwon) and analyzed the contents of ICAO Annual Report of the Council 2010 and announced that Korea achieved the number six ranking in world air transport (international and domestic combined) in 2010, taking the 13th place for passenger transport and the third place for cargo transport. As Korea’s air traffic performance posted relatively rapid growth, the country toppled France (6th in 2009) and Japan (7th in 2009) in terms of total ton-kilometers.

Moreover, Korea posted a better record in international scheduled services. International passenger traffic has maintained a number nine ranking for seven consecutive years and international cargo traffic has had a number two ranking for four consecutive years. The all-around record of taking number five is the first since 2003.

The MLTM said that Korea is expected to maintain high air traffic records well into the future considering the high air service demand during high-demand season and as passenger traffic performance during the first half of 2011 was the highest compared to the same period historically. <Korea Shipping Gazette>