Incheon Airport Corporation Holds Airport Safety Management System Committee Meeting

On the afternoon of the 12th, at the meeting room of Incheon International Airport Corporation, Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation (center in the photo), is taking a commemorative photo with representatives and officials from seven ground handling companies attending the '2021 Incheon Airport Safety Management System Committee'.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 13th that it held the ‘Incheon Airport Safety Management System Committee’ at the corporation’s conference room.

The Incheon Airport Safety Management System Committee is the highest decision-making body that discusses current issues and countermeasures related to the safety of aircraft movement areas at Incheon Airport, and it is an essential collaborative organization for the stable operation of Incheon Airport.

The committee has been held annually since 2006 to establish safety policies and goals for aircraft movement areas at Incheon Airport and to proactively predict and manage risk factors. This year marks its 16th year, with 18 related organizations participating, including Incheon Airport Corporation, airlines, and ground handling companies.

Through this meeting, the corporation evaluated the achievements in the safety sector at Incheon Airport last year and discussed detailed tasks to be implemented to establish and achieve safety policy goals for 2021.

In particular, this year, due to the reduction of ground handling personnel caused by the spread of COVID-19, new risk factors such as increased workload intensity and decreased proficiency of handlers have emerged, leading to focused discussions on preventive measures against accidents caused by human error within the airport.

Based on the discussion results, the corporation plans to strengthen cooperative relationships between airlines and ground handling companies, conduct joint safety inspections, operate a voluntary reporting application, and introduce smart technologies to thoroughly prevent accidents in aircraft movement areas.

Despite the COVID-19 crisis, Incheon Airport Corporation is implementing large-scale support measures across the entire airport industry ecosystem, including airlines, airport commercial facilities, and ground handling companies, to secure competitiveness. Since March last year, full support for apron usage fees has been provided in the ground handling sector.

Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon Airport Corporation, said, “Through this meeting, under the recognition that safety is a non-negotiable core value of airport operations, we were able to build cooperative relationships between the airport corporation and ground handling companies and share various opinions to strengthen safety management in aircraft movement areas at Incheon Airport. We will provide safer airport services in preparation for the post-COVID-19 era.”

Meanwhile, the committee was attended by about 20 related personnel, including Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon Airport Corporation; Yoo Jong-seok, CEO of Korea Airports Corporation; Nam Ki-hyung, CEO of Asiana Airport; Baek Soon-seok, CEO of Sharp Aviation K; and top executives and safety practitioners from seven ground handling companies.