In April, the number of international flight passengers using foreign airlines surpassed those using Korean Air and Asiana Airlines for the first time since the pandemic restrictions were lifted. Data from the Land and Transport Ministry showed that 2.25 million travelers used foreign airlines, while 1.36 million flew with Korean Air and 877,470 with Asiana Airlines. Foreign airlines experienced a 50.4 percent increase in passenger numbers compared to a 32 percent increase for the two Korean carriers. In 2021, when the pandemic was still prevalent, foreign airlines attracted more passengers than Korean Air and Asiana Airlines due to reduced airfares, despite the latter maintaining ticket prices. The top two Korean airlines are facing challenges in increasing their operational rates on China routes, with Asiana Airlines particularly struggling to recover flight volume on these routes. Despite this, industry experts predict that Korean Air and Asiana Airlines may surpass their foreign rivals in the upcoming months, especially during the summer holiday season, as the flight volume continues to recover. The increasing popularity of Korea as a tourist destination is expected to drive Korean air carriers to expand their flight offerings.