The number of air passengers was 24-point-four million in the first three months of this year, a 12-point-four percent surge from the same period last year.

According to tallies from the Transport Ministry unveiled on Tuesday, domestic passengers numbered six-point-eight million, a ten-point-four percent rise from a year ago. International fliers accounted for 17-point-six million, a 13-point-two percent rise from the previous year.

Officials attributed the increase to eased visa regulations and the increased travel among foreigners from the Incheon and Gimpo airports to the southern resort island of Jeju via budget airliners. Officials also noted low fuel costs that contributed to near-zero fuel surcharges.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines accounted for 43-point-three percent of domestic fliers, or about two-point-nine million passengers. The country’s five low cost carriers – Air Busan, Eastarjet, Jeju Air, Jin Air and T’way Air – ferried 56-point-seven percent of in-country fliers, or about three-point-nine million passengers.

Six-point-four million fliers traveled between Southeast Asia and Korea. Four-point-four million flew to and from China, three-point-nine million to and from Japan, one-point-one million to and from North America and 936-thousand to and from Europe.