Tokyo emerged as the most visited destination for Korean Air (003490.KS) passengers departing from Korea this year, with Japanese cities claiming the top three spots amid robust travel demand and a significant recovery in China routes.
According to Korean Air's "2025 Year-End Review" released Thursday, the carrier transported a total of 16.49 million passengers and flew 280 million kilometers this year—a distance equivalent to 560,000 round trips between Mount Baekdu and Mount Halla.
Tokyo retained its top position from last year as the most popular destination, followed by Osaka and Fukuoka in Japan. Bangkok, Thailand, ranked fourth.
China routes showed a notable rebound this year. Passengers to Shanghai increased by 128,000 compared to last year, while Beijing saw an increase of 71,000 and Qingdao added 63,000 passengers.
By age group, travelers in their 30s and 40s accounted for 40% of all passengers, followed by those in their 50s and 60s at 30%, passengers in their 10s and 20s at 21%, and other age groups at 9%. Foreign nationals comprised 35% of passengers, with American and Chinese nationals each accounting for 24% of that segment.
The airline's most frequent flyer this year boarded 216 times, equivalent to 108 round trips. A total of 5,192 children used the unaccompanied minor service, while 31,818 pets traveled on Korean Air flights.
Korean Air accelerated its brand renewal this year, unveiling a new corporate identity and aircraft livery. The airline has repainted 34 aircraft so far and plans to continue the rollout next year.
Airport lounge usage also grew significantly. The Korean Air lounge at Incheon Airport Terminal 2 recorded 1.316 million visitors this year. The newly renovated lounge, which reopened in mid-August, welcomed 342,000 visitors—26% of the total—with pizza from the live cooking station prepared by on-site chefs proving the most popular item.
Among pre-order meals for Prestige Class, "stir-fried octopus with rice" was the top choice, followed by pork lettuce wraps and beef steak with rosemary sauce. For in-flight entertainment, the film "Captain America: Brave New World," the drama "Lovely Runner," and the variety show "I Live Alone" topped viewership in their respective categories.
For mileage redemptions under 10,000 miles, "Cash & Miles" accounted for 37% of usage, followed by the "KE Design Store" at 16%. The most purchased item with mileage at the Design Store was the TWB face towel. Approximately 36,000 Korean Air gift cards were exchanged this year, with one customer purchasing 71 cards.
The year-end review was based on international flight boarding data from January 1 to November 10 this year. Full details are available on the Korean Air website and mobile app.
