The number of international air passengers hit 3.82 million in May to set a record high for the month, up 14.9 percent from a year earlier.

According to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs on Wednesday, the surge is due to a rise in visitors from Japan, with numbers jumping 52.2 percent on-year in April and 35.3 percent in May. The number of flyers from the neighboring country dwindled earlier after it was hit by a massive earthquake last year.

Coupled with vacationers from China and Japan, the long weekend for Buddha's Birthday also contributed to the improved figures last month.

Meanwhile, the number of domestic flyers jumped 5.4 percent to 2.11 million last month from the same period last year. The ministry said the 2012 Yeosu Expo had also played a role in the increase.

"The number of air passengers is expected to keep growing in anticipation of a surge in summer vacationers, increased flights from and to Japan, and drop in fuel surcharge," said a ministry official.