Government data shows that the number of air travelers entering and leaving the country jumped more than 13 percent last month from a year earlier.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said air passengers numbered eight-point-42 million in January, an increase of 13-point-four percent from a year ago.

Domestic air passengers accounted for two-point-21 million, a hike of eight-point-three percent from the year before. International passengers reached six-point-two million, an increase of 15-point-four percent on-year.

Transportation Ministry officials said the increase was due to a rise in the number of South Koreans going to Japan and Chinese coming to South Korea and due to waived fuel surcharges for air passengers.

The ministry added that expanded flight routes of low-cost carriers also played a role.