Flight ticket purchases in Korea rise 627 percent on year in August

Incoming travelers wait in line to get tested for Covid-19 at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The number of flights booked in Korea surged 627 percent in August on year, according to Hana Tour on Thursday.

By region, flights to Europe rose 356 percent and North America 209 percent.

Flight bookings to South East Asian countries soared 1,787 percent due to the active resumption of flights, particularly by low-cost carriers.

The average ticket price increased over twofold compared to August 2019, before the pandemic began. Hana Tour anticipates that prices will continue to fall after having peaked in June.

Ticket prices for flights to Europe dropped 22.5 percent in August and for South East Asian countries 20.0 percent compared to June.

“Prices of flight tickets are expected to stabilize as the fuel surcharge will soon drop and the supply of flights will increase in September,” said a spokesperson for Hana Tour.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]