The number of foreigner passengers aboard international flights to and from Narita Airport near Tokyo exceeded 20 million for the first time in 2024.



Narita International Airport Corporation, the airport's operator, says 21.79 million of the 32.2 million people aboard international flights last year were foreign nationals. That is up 36 percent from 2023 and 20 percent higher than 2019, the year before the coronavirus pandemic.



There were 7.94 million Japanese travelers aboard international flights. That is up from 2023, but is about half the 2019 figure.



The airport operator says the weak yen is responsible for the influx of foreign visitors and the drop in Japanese traveling abroad.



There were 7.6 million passengers on domestic flights, which almost matched the level seen in 2019.



Corporation President Tamura Akihiko said last year was a year of transition from the pandemic to renewed growth. He said he expects the trend to continue this year and the airport hopes to meet the demand.