Incheon International Airport

Introduction

Main airport serving Seoul, South Korea Incheon International Airport인천국제공항Aerial view of Incheon International Airport in 2020IATA: ICNICAO: RKSIWMO: 47113SummaryAirport typePublicOwnerMinistry of Land, Infrastructure and TransportOperatorIncheon International Airport CorporationServesSeoul metropolitan areaLocationJung-gu, Incheon, South KoreaOpened29 March 2001; 25 years ago (2001-03-29)Hub forAir PremiaAirZetaAsiana AirlinesFedEx ExpressKorean AirPolar Air CargoOperating base forAir SeoulJeju AirJin AirT'way AirElevation AMSL7 m / 23 ftCoordinates37°27′48″N 126°26′24″E / 37.46333°N 126.44000°E / 37.46333; 126.44000Websitewww.airport.krMapsICN/RKSILocation of airport in South KoreaInteractive map of Incheon International AirportRunways Direction Length Surface m ft 15R/33L 3,750 12,303 Asphalt 15L/33R 3,750 12,303 Asphalt 16L/34R 4,000 13,123 Asphalt 16R/34L 3,750 12,303 Asphalt Helipads Number Length Surface m ft H1 19 63 Concrete Statistics (2024)Total passengers 71,156,947Aircraft movements 413,200Tonnes of cargo 2,946,902Statistics from KAC Incheon International AirportHangul인천국제공항Hanja仁川國際空港RRIncheon gukjegonghangMRInch'ŏn kukchegonghang Incheon International Airport (IATA: ICN, ICAO: RKSI) is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. This airport opened for business on 29 March 2001, to replace the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves mostly domestic destinations and shuttle flights to several East Asian metropolitan areas, particularly Shanghai–Hongqiao, Taipei–Songshan and Tokyo–Haneda. Incheon International Airport is located west of Incheon's city center, on an artificially created piece of land between Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands. A shallow sea originally separated the two islands. That area between the two islands was reclaimed for the construction project, effectively connecting the once-separate Yeongjong and Yongyu islands. The reclaimed area and the two islands are all part of Jung-gu, an administrative district of Incheon. The airport has 111 boarding gates altogether, with 44 in Terminal 1, 30 in Concourse A (connected to Terminal 1), and 37 in Terminal 2. This airport was constructed to share the demand for air transport in the 21st century and to serve as a hub airport in Northeast Asia.

History

[edit] Location of Incheon International Airport on reclaimed land joining Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands Aerial view of ICN T1 in 2023 International air traffic to South Korea increased after the 1988 Summer Olympics. In the 1990s, it became apparent that Gimpo International Airport could not cope with the increased air traffic. The government decided to build a new international airport to reduce the load on Gimpo International Airport.[citation needed] In November 1992, the construction of the Incheon airport began on reclaimed land between Yeongjong Island and Youngyu Island. It took eight years to finish, with an additional six months for testing. Completion was initially scheduled for 1997 but delayed due to the Asian economic crisis. The airport was officially opened on 21 March 2001. On 15 November 2006, an Airbus A380 landed at the airport as part of the first leg of its certification trip. Tests on the runways, taxiways, and ramps showed that the airport is fully capable of handling the A380.[citation needed] To further upgrade service, Incheon and a major Korean logistics firm Hanjin Group (parent company of Korean Air) agreed on 10 January 2008, to build Yeongjong Medical Centre, which was completed in 2012. This hospital serves nearby residents and some 30,000 medical tourists who come to Korea annually.

Operations

[edit] The airport opened for business in early 2001 to replace the older Gimpo International Airport, which now serves mostly domestic destinations plus shuttle flights to Beijing–Capital, Kaohsiung, Nagoya–Centrair, Osaka–Kansai, Shanghai–Hongqiao, Taipei–Songshan and Tokyo–Haneda although flights to Beijing, Kaohsiung, Nagoya and Osaka also operate from Incheon Airport.[citation needed] Located 48 km (30 mi) west of Seoul, the capital and the largest city of South Korea, Incheon International Airport is the main hub for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, and Polar Air Cargo. The airport is a hub for international civilian air transportation and cargo traffic in East Asia. In 2024, the Incheon International Airport was the sixth-busiest airport in the world and third in Asia by cargo traffic, and 13th in the world and seventh in Asia by passenger traffic.

Construction phases

[edit] Airport layout Aerial view in 2024 The airport was originally planned to be built in three phases, incrementally increasing airport capacity as the demand grew. This was changed, however, to four phases after the airport was opened. Phase 1[edit] In Phase 1, the airport had a capacity of 30 million passengers annually, and a cargo capacity of 2,700,000 tonnes annually. In this phase, a passenger terminal with a floor space of 496,000 square metres (5,338,900 sq ft), two parallel runways, a control tower, an administrative building, a transportation centre (the Integrated Transportation Centre, designed by Terry Farrell and Partners and Samoo Architects & Engineers), an integrated operations centre, three cargo terminals, international business centre, and a government office building were constructed. Phase 2[edit] Phase 2 construction began in 2002 and was originally expected to be completed in December 2008. However, in an attempt to have the airport ready for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which took place in August 2008, the schedule was modified, and Phase 2 construction was completed on 20 June 2008. During this construction phase, a third parallel 4,000-metre-long (13,123 ft 4 in) runway and a 13-hectare (32.1-acre) cargo terminal area was added. A 16.5-hectare (40.8-acre) concourse connected to the main passenger building via two parallel 870-metre-long (2,854 ft 4 in) underground passageways were added, with a Mitsubishi Crystal Mover shuttle train APM shuttling passengers between the concourse and the main terminal. Phase 3[edit] The South Korean government invested ₩4 trillion until 2017 to expand Incheon International Airport. The second passenger terminal was constructed in the northern field of the airport, and its existing cargo terminal and other infrastructures were expanded. The terminals are connected by the underground "Starline" train. Also, a Landside Connecting system (Bus shuttle) is used for airport employees and departing passengers who don't come to the right terminal. After completion, Incheon International Airport can handle 62 million passengers and 5,800,000 tonnes (5,708,398 long tons; 6,393,406 short tons) of cargo a year, up from the previous capacity of 44 million passengers and 4,500,000 tonnes (4,428,929 long tons; 4,960,401 short tons). Construction began in 2011 and was completed in 2017. The terminal opened on 18 January 2018. Incheon's expansion also includes adding more aprons to park planes and extending a railway line to the city center of Seoul about 70 kilometres (43 mi) away from the airport. The airport also signed an agreement to build a resort called "Inspire" which includes 6-star hotels, theme parks, and a casino. Phase 4[edit] Between 2017 and 2024, a fourth construction phase at the airport was taking place. There was an expansion of Terminal 2, the building of a fourth runway and additional apron and car parking facilities. Following completion of the works, it is expected that the hourly flight capacity of the airport will increase from 90 to 107. The 4th runway opened first on 17 June 2017 and phase 4 construction fully completed later on 3 December 2024. There are long-term plans for a fifth runway and a third terminal to handle low-cost carriers.

Terminals

[edit] Terminal 1[edit] Terminal 1 (measuring 496,000 square metres (5,338,900 sq ft)) is the largest airport terminal by area in South Korea. Terminal 1 was designed by Curtis W. Fentress, FAIA, RIBA of Fentress Architects. It is 1,060 metres (3,480 ft) long, 149 metres (489 ft) wide, and 33 metres (108 ft) high. Its construction cost was 5.632 trillion South Korean Won. The terminal has 47 boarding ports (all of which can accommodate the Airbus A380), 50 customs inspection ports, 2 biological quarantine counters, 6 stationary and 14 portable passenger quarantine counters, 120 arrival passport inspection counters, 8 arrival security ports, 28 departure security ports, 252 check-in counters, and 120 departure passport inspection counters. In 2015, an automatic check-in counter lane was introduced, which people travelling via Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and China Southern Airlines can use. Instead of having airport staff at the counter, there is a machine where travellers input their flight information, scan their passports, receive their flight tickets and lastly, load the luggage onto the conveyor. This system was planned to be introduced in Terminal 2, but in May 2015, Incheon Airport used one of the counter islands for the unmanned luggage handling system. In December 2023, a Oneworld-branded and operated lounge opened in Incheon Airport Terminal 1 to serve passengers flying on seven of the alliance's 16 member carriers who serve the airport: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, and SriLankan Airlines. It is the first in a series of planned lounges under development by the alliance. Exterior view at Terminal 1 Interior view at Terminal 1 Arrivals Bus stops Midfield Concourse[edit] The passenger concourse was completed at the end of May 2008. It is connected to Terminal 1 by two parallel 870-metre-long (2,850 ft) underground passageways equipped with IATs (Intra Airport Transit). It has 32 gates and six lounges. Terminal 2[edit] A new passenger terminal, designed by Gensler, opened on 18 January 2018, and Korean Air, Air France, Delta Air Lines, and KLM flights were relocated from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. Other SkyTeam members such as Aeroflot, Aeroméxico, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and XiamenAir started serving Terminal 2 on 28 October 2018. From 1 July 2023, Jin Air, the low-cost subsidiary of Korean Air, started operating at Terminal 2. And the rest of the SkyTeam members, such as China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines will be relocated to Terminal 2 later in the future. From 29 July 2025, Air Busan started operations at Terminal 2, followed by Air Seoul (from 9 September 2025) and Asiana Airlines (from 14 January 2026) relocated to Terminal 2 as well due to the merger with Korean Air. From 13 September 2025, Scandinavian Airlines started an inaugural flight to Incheon, using Terminal 2. From March 2026, Virgin Atlantic will start flying into Incheon using Terminal 2 as well.[citation needed] The airport area also has a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, an ice skating rink, a casino, indoor gardens, a video game center and the Museum of Korean Culture. F ticket check-in Waiting / arrivals Departure & ticketing Departure & ticketing Terminal 2 check-in area Transit lobby of Terminal 2 Boarding gates

Airlines and destinations

[edit] Passenger[edit] This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2026) AirlinesDestinations 9 Air Guiyang[citation needed] Aero K Hanoi,[citation needed] Hualien, Ibaraki,[citation needed] Nha Trang,[citation needed] Obihiro,[citation needed] Osaka–Kansai,[citation needed] Tokyo–Narita[citation needed] Aero Mongolia Ulaanbaatar Aeroméxico Mexico City–Benito Juárez[citation needed] Air Astana Astana[citation needed] Air Busan Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[citation needed] Nha Trang,[citation needed] Seasonal: Chiang Mai, Hong Kong Air Canada Seasonal: Montréal–Trudeau[citation needed] Air China Beijing–Daxing,[citation needed] Chengdu–Tianfu,[citation needed] Hangzhou,[citation needed] Tianjin,[citation needed] Wenzhou[citation needed] Air Premia Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi,[citation needed] Da Nang,[citation needed] Hong Kong, Honolulu,[citation needed] Newark,[citation needed] San Francisco,[citation needed] Washington–Dulles Charter: Barcelona,[citation needed] Dhaka[citation needed] Air Seoul Guam, Takamatsu,[citation needed] Yonago, Zhangjiajie AirAsia Kota Kinabalu AirAsia X Kuala Lumpur–International American Airlines Dallas Alaska Airlines Seattle/Tacoma Asiana Airlines Beijing–Capital, Budapest, Chengdu–Tianfu,[citation needed] Chiang Mai,[citation needed] Chongqing,[citation needed] Clark, Da Lat,[citation needed] Fukuoka,[citation needed] Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Milan–Malpensa, Miyazaki,[citation needed] Phuket,[citation needed] Prague, Sendai,[citation needed] Shanghai–Pudong,[citation needed] Singapore, Tashkent,[citation needed] Tokyo–Haneda,[citation needed] Tokyo–Narita[citation needed] Seasonal: Kota Kinabalu[citation needed] Seasonal charter: Saipan, Siem Reap[citation needed] Batik Air Malaysia Kuala Lumpur–International Beijing Capital Airlines Sanya[citation needed] Centrum Air Tashkent[citation needed] China Airlines Kaohsiung, Taipei–Taoyuan China Eastern Airlines Beijing–Daxing,[citation needed] Harbin,[citation needed] Xi'an, Yanji, Yantai[citation needed] China Southern Airlines Changchun,[citation needed] Dalian,[citation needed] Harbin,[citation needed] Mudanjiang,[citation needed] Shanghai–Pudong,[citation needed] Shenyang,[citation needed] Wuhan,[citation needed] Zhengzhou Colorful Guizhou Airlines Guiyang China United Airlines Ordos[citation needed] Delta Air Lines Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City Eastar Jet Almaty, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai,[citation needed] Da Nang, Fukuoka,[citation needed] Hong Kong, Kagoshima,[citation needed] Naha,[citation needed] Nha Trang,[citation needed] Osaka–Kansai, Phu Quoc, Sapporo–Chitose,[citation needed] Shanghai–Pudong, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tokushima, Tokyo–Narita, Yantai, Zhengzhou Charter: Manado El Al Tel Aviv (resumes 28 March 2027) EVA Air Kaohsiung, Taipei–Taoyuan Finnair Helsinki Garuda Indonesia Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta Greater Bay Airlines Seasonal: Hong Kong[citation needed] Hainan Airlines Haikou[citation needed] HK Express Hong Kong[citation needed] Jeju Air Da Lat, Denpasar, Hakodate,[citation needed] Hiroshima, Jeju, Kagoshima,[citation needed] Kobe (begins 11 July 2026), Kota Kinabalu, Macau, Matsuyama,[citation needed] Ōita,[citation needed] Phu Quoc,[citation needed] Qingdao, Shijiazhuang, Shizuoka,[citation needed] Singapore, Taipei–Taoyuan,[citation needed] Ulaanbaatar,[citation needed] Vientiane[citation needed] Seasonal: Guilin[citation needed] Jetstar Brisbane, Sydney–Kingsford Smith Jin Air Chiang Mai,[citation needed] Enshi,[citation needed] Guilin, Ishigaki,[citation needed] Kota Kinabalu, Nagoya–Centrair, Nha Trang,[citation needed] Phu Quoc, Shimojishima,[citation needed] Tagbilaran,[citation needed] Taichung,[citation needed] Taipei–Taoyuan,[citation needed] Takamatsu Seasonal: Phuket, Vientiane KLM Amsterdam[citation needed] Korean Air Aomori,[citation needed] Budapest,[citation needed] Denpasar,[citation needed] Dubai–International,[citation needed] Fuzhou,[citation needed] Hefei, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Kagoshima,[citation needed] Kathmandu,[citation needed] Kobe, Komatsu,[citation needed] Kuala Lumpur–International, Kumamoto,[citation needed] Kunming,[citation needed] Las Vegas, Lisbon, Macau,[citation needed] Madrid,[citation needed] Mudanjiang,[citation needed] Nagasaki, Nanjing,[citation needed] Niigata,[citation needed] Ōita,[citation needed] Okayama,[citation needed] Phnom Penh, Phu Quoc,[citation needed] Qingdao,[citation needed] Shanghai–Pudong,[citation needed] Shenzhen,[citation needed] Singapore, Taichung,[citation needed] Tokyo–Haneda,[citation needed] Tokyo–Narita,[citation needed] Wuhan,[citation needed] Xiamen,[citation needed] Yanji,[citation needed] Zhangjiajie,[citation needed] Zhengzhou[citation needed] Seasonal: Zurich Seasonal charter: Athens Lao Airlines Vientiane LOT Polish Airlines Warsaw–Chopin, Wrocław Malaysia Airlines Kuala Lumpur–International Parata Air Hanoi (resumes 13 July 2026), Osaka–Kansai,[citation needed] Sapporo–Chitose (begins 6 July 2026) Philippine Airlines Seasonal: Clark,[citation needed] Kalibo Qanot Sharq Tashkent[citation needed] Royal Brunei Airlines Bandar Seri Begawan Scandinavian Airlines Copenhagen SCAT Airlines Şymkent[citation needed] Scoot Singapore Shandong Airlines Jinan,[citation needed] Yantai[citation needed] Sichuan Airlines Chengdu–Tianfu,[citation needed] Zhangjiajie[citation needed] Singapore Airlines Singapore Sky Angkor Airlines Phnom Penh[citation needed] Spring Airlines Shijiazhuang Sun PhuQuoc Airways Phu Quoc Swiss International Air Lines Seasonal: Zurich T'way Air Barcelona,[citation needed] Bishkek, Frankfurt,[citation needed] Haikou,[citation needed] Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Kota Kinabalu,[citation needed] Naha,[citation needed] Paris–Charles de Gaulle,[citation needed] Qingdao,[citation needed] Rome–Fiumicino,[citation needed] Saipan (resumes 25 October 2026), Sanya, Sapporo–Chitose,[citation needed] Singapore, Sydney, Taichung,[citation needed] Tashkent,[citation needed] Vancouver[citation needed] Seasonal: Cebu,[citation needed] Ulaanbaatar,[citation needed] Zagreb Thai AirAsia Bangkok–Don Mueang Thai Airways International Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[citation needed] Thai VietJet Air Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi[citation needed] Tigerair Taiwan Taipei–Taoyuan Turkmenistan Airlines Aşgabat[citation needed] United Airlines Newark (begins 4 September 2026) VietJet Air Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang Virgin Atlantic London–Heathrow[citation needed] WestJet Seasonal: Calgary XiamenAir Fuzhou[citation needed] Cargo[edit] This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (May 2026) AirlinesDestinations Air Premia Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore Atlas Air Anchorage, Changsha, Chengdu–Shuangliu, Chicago–O'Hare, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta, Los Angeles, Miami, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenzhen, Singapore, Tokyo–Narita, Xiamen, Zaragoza Awesome Cargo Anchorage, Mexico City–Felipe Ángeles Jeju Air Cargo Hanoi, Tokyo–Narita, Yantai KLM Cargo Amsterdam, Hong Kong Korean Air Cargo Zhengzhou Turkmenistan Airlines Cargo Ashgabat[citation needed]

Accidents and incidents

[edit] On 16 June 2011, an Airbus A321-200, operating as Asiana Airlines Flight 324 between Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, China and Incheon International Airport, was fired upon by two soldiers of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps as it came in to land at Incheon. A total of 99 rounds were discharged at the aircraft, which was out of range and it made a safe landing without sustaining any damage. The soldiers had misidentified the aircraft as belonging to the North Korean military and were acting on orders that permitted them to engage without reference to senior officers, following the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong in November 2010.

Ground transport

[edit] A limousine bus at Incheon Airport bound for Jamsil Subway Station in Seoul Public transport[edit] Rail[edit] Incheon Airport rail terminal for AREX and formerly KTX AREX 2000 series EMU with commuter train service The Airport Railroad Express (AREX and styled as A'REX) has two stations located in both the Transport Centre adjacent to the Terminal 1 building (Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 station) and is in the basement of Terminal 2 (Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 station). It provides service to Gimpo International Airport and Seoul. Many of the stations along the line provide connections to Incheon Subway, Seoul Metropolitan Subway, and Incheon Airport Maglev.[citation needed] For departing passengers, Seoul Station City Airport Terminal offers in-town early check-in service and has related immigration services before arriving at the airport. Seoul Station City Airport Terminal is the only available place in Seoul where in-town check-in service is provided. That is since CALT closed its in-town check-in operation at Gangnam in 2023. The Korea Train eXpress (KTX) operated at the same station as AREX but used a different platform. It operated 20 times per day from the airport; twelve times on the Gyeongbu Line, twice on the Gyeonjeon Line, four times on the Honam Line, and twice on the Jeolla Line. The service started in 2014 but was suspended in March 2018 due to low ridership. The suspension became permanent in September 2018 as the line was officially closed. The Incheon Airport Maglev opened on 3 February 2016 and closed on 1 September 2023. The first phase was to be 6.1 km long, spread over six stations (but eight stations were built, spanning more than 8 km), taking riders from the airport toward the southwest of the island where a water park is located. Phase 2 was to be 9.7 km long, extending the line to the northwest of the island. Phase 3 would have added 37.4 km, transforming the line into a circle. After converting the tracks from Maglev to orbital tram tracks, service is expected to resume from March 2024. Bus[edit] Airport shuttle buses transport passengers between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Buses are free, arrive every 5 to 8 minutes, take approximately 20 minutes of travel time, and stop at the Hyatt Hotel or airport fire station en route, depending on direction. Airport buses are called limousine buses. Standard limousine buses travel to Gimpo Airport & Songjeong station. Intercity buses connect with other towns and cities in Korea. The City Air Logistics & Transportation company runs an airport bus line directly connected to the bus station at COEX, Gangnam. Ferry[edit] A ferry service connects Yeongjong-do to the mainland. However, the dock is located a considerable distance from the airport. An alternative means of transport must be sought upon arriving at the island to be able to get to the airport. Car[edit] The airport provides a short-term parking lot for 4,000 cars and a long-term parking lot for 6,000 cars. Shuttle services connect the long-term parking lot to the passenger terminal and the cargo terminal. Car rental is located near the long-term parking lot. A link to the mainland is provided by the toll Yeongjong Bridge and an expressway. A second expressway on the Incheon Bridge also connects the island to central Incheon.[citation needed] Roads[edit] It is connected to the Incheon Bridge and the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway. Airport limousine buses, which have been operating since the day Incheon International Airport opened, and many visitors in private cars use this road. When the 3rd Yeonyukgyo Bridge opens in 2025, a general road connecting to the Gyeongin Expressway, Incheon Airport will be accessible by two-wheeled vehicles and on foot.[citation needed]

Traffic and statistics

[edit] In 2017, the airport was the world's fourth busiest airport by cargo traffic and third in Asia, and the world's 19th busiest airport by passenger traffic and ninth in Asia. In 2019, the airport served a total of 70,857,908 passengers. Top destinations[edit] Busiest international routes (2024) Rank Airport Passengers Operating airlines 1 Tokyo–Narita 4,837,254 Aero K, Air Busan, Air Japan, Air Premia, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Ethiopian Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, T'way Air, Zipair Tokyo Tokyo–Haneda 357,320 Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Peach Aviation 2 Osaka–Kansai 4,464,760 Air Busan, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Peach Aviation, T'way Air 3 Fukuoka 3,376,186 Air Busan, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, T'way Air 4 Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi 2,960,587 Air Busan, Air Premia, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Thai International Airways, T'way Air Bangkok–Don Mueang 93,020 Thai AirAsia X 54 Hong Kong 2,680,682 Air Premia, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Greater Bay Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, T'way Air Macau4 433,779 Air Macau, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air 6 Taipei–Taoyuan 2,315,298 Asiana Airlines, China Airlines, Eastar Jet, EVA Air, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, Scoot, Tigerair Taiwan 7 Da Nang 2,112,961 Air Premia, Air Seoul, Asiana Airlines, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, T'way Air, Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines 8 Singapore 2,005,750 Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, T'way Air 9 Nha Trang 1,766,778 Aero K, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Korean Air, T'way Air, Vietjet Air, Vietnam Airlines 10 Manila 1,753,038 Asiana Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Jeju Air, Korean Air, Philippines AirAsia, Philippine Airlines Source: Korea Airportal[citation needed] ^4As a general rule, Hong Kong is strictly separated from Macau because of historical reasons. However, the distance between the two cities is very short and also economical, cultural exchanges are so active. Thus, this table ties together for convenience. Annual traffic[edit] PassengersYear010,000,00020,000,00030,000,00040,000,00050,000,00060,000,00070,000,00080,000,000200020052010201520202025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic Years Aircraft operations Passengers Cargo (tonnes) 2001 86,807 14,542,290 1,186,015 2002 126,094 20,924,171 1,705,928 2003 130,185 19,789,874 1,843,055 2004 149,776 24,084,072 2,133,444 2005 160,843 26,051,466 2,150,139 2006 182,007 28,191,116 2,336,571 2007 211,404 31,227,897 2,555,580 2008 211,102 29,973,522 2,423,717 2009 198,918 28,549,770 2,313,002 2010 214,835 33,478,925 2,684,499 2011 229,580 35,062,366 2,539,222 2012 254,037 38,970,864 2,456,724 2013 271,224 41,482,828 2,464,385 2014 290,043 45,512,099 2,557,681 2015 305,446 49,281,220 2,595,677 2016 339,673 57,765,397 2,714,341 2017 360,295 62,082,032 2,921,691 2018 387,497 68,259,763 2,952,123 2019 404,104 71,169,722 2,764,369 2020 149,982 12,094,851 2,822,370 2021 131,027 3,198,909 3,329,292 2022 171,253 17,869,759 2,945,855 2023 337,299 56,131,064 3,600,288 2024 413,200 71,156,947 2,946,902 2025 425,760 74,071,475 2,954,684 Source: IIAC Airport Statistics

Marketing

[edit] Singer IU (left) was appointed as promotional envoy of Incheon International Airport Customs for 2025 and actor Park Bo-gum (right) was appointed as honorary ambassador for the airport from 2025 to 2028 In August 2025, singer-actress IU was named promotional envoy for Incheon Airport customs. In September 2025, the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) announced that they have appointed actor Park Bo-gum as honorary ambassador.

In popular culture

[edit] The Sims 4 team released The Sims 4: Incheon Arrivals kit, inspired by the fashion at the Incheon airport. Scenes in seasons 1 and 2 of Squid Game were filmed in Incheon International Airport. During the filming of the season 2 scenes, there was alleged mistreatment towards members of the public from the production staff, causing the production company to release an apology.

Accolades

[edit] As of 2024, the airport has been rated by Skytrax as the third-best airport in the world. Skytrax has also rated the airport as the world's best international transit airport and one of the world's cleanest airports. The airport is one of Skytrax's 5-star airports and has also been awarded for the best airport security in 2021. During the entire run of the best airport worldwide ranking by Airports Council International (ACI) from 2005 to 2011, Incheon International Airport topped the ranking every year. ACI also rated the airport as the best airport in Asia-Pacific for 10 consecutive years from 2006 to 2016 until the ranking series ended in 2017.