Analysis of the Correlation and Directionality of Airline Passengers Traffic by Domestic Airport

The purpose of this study is to analyze long-term trends in arriving and departing passenger volumes at major domestic airports and to identify correlations and directional similarities across airports.Using 246 months of data from January 2005 to June 2025, the study employs year-over-year monthly change rates to capture structural shifts rather than short-term fluctuations.Nine airports-Gimpo, Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, Yeosu, and Incheon-were selected based on passenger volume and their importance within the national aviation network.The results show that Cheongju Airport maintained a strong upward trend, consistently recording growth rates in the 500 percent range.Incheon and Gimhae demonstrated clear recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels, indicating strong and resilient demand.In contrast, Gimpo, Daegu, Gwangju, Ulsan, and Yeosu have not yet fully returned to previous levels, reflecting differences in regional demand recovery.In terms of directional similarity, Gimhae, Jeju, Cheongju, and Gimpo displayed highly aligned movements with overall domestic passenger trends, whereas Yeosu and Ulsan showed relatively weak alignment.These findings suggest that domestic airports are experiencing differentiated recovery patterns influenced by structural changes in the aviation market.The study highlights the need for data-driven strategies tailored to each airport's demand characteristics and emphasizes the importance of improving passenger convenience and supporting regional economic revitalization.