Demand for air transportation has increased in September over last year for both passengers and cargo as the economy recovers from the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
 
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Monday that passenger demand was two-point-42 million on domestic flights and four-point-93 million on international flights in September for a total of seven-point-35 million, or up seven-point-three percent on year.
 
Domestic travel increased 14 percent due to higher demand for flights to Jeju Island as well as an increase in the number of domestic flights while international travel rose four-point-three percent.
 
Air cargo rose three-point-six percent on year to 310-thousand tons largely due to more demand for overseas flights.
 
A land ministry official said the air transportation market has entered a growth phase in earnest in September and that demand for air cargo is expected to increase further this month on imports and exports of wireless communications devices and semiconductor equipment.