Incheon Airport Surpasses 3 Million Tons of Annual Cargo for the First Time Since Opening... Cumulative Record Exceeds 50 Million Tons

Global E-commerce Company GDC Attraction and Establishment of Smart Cargo Terminal with Domestic Airlines

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Since its opening in 2001, Incheon International Airport has set a historic record by handling 3 million tons of air cargo annually for the first time and reaching a cumulative air cargo volume of 50 million tons.

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 2nd that it will hold a 'Commemorative Event for Achieving 50 Million Tons of Cumulative Air Cargo and 3 Million Tons Annually for the First Time' at the corporation's main auditorium in Jung-gu, Incheon. The event will be attended by key stakeholders including Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon Airport Corporation, Yoon Jin-hwan, Director of Aviation Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as well as representatives from airlines, logistics companies, and ground handling firms.

According to the corporation, due to the increased demand for air cargo amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, Incheon Airport surpassed 3 million tons of air cargo volume (including export-import cargo, transshipment cargo, and mail, excluding baggage) as of the 26th of last month. This is the first time since the airport's opening and ranks second globally after Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport. Consequently, the cumulative air cargo volume reached 50 million tons on July 27.

Incheon Airport's air cargo volume continues to show steep growth. Although passenger traffic plummeted by more than 90% compared to 2019 due to COVID-19, last month's air cargo performance increased by about 20% year-on-year, breaking records on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis.

The corporation plans to actively strengthen future air logistics competitiveness by expanding logistics infrastructure based on this achievement. To attract the increasing volume of e-commerce cargo in the post-COVID era, it aims to attract global e-commerce companies' Global Distribution Centers (GDCs) and promote sea-air intermodal transport to actively attract transshipment cargo from China and other regions.

Additionally, to build future-oriented air logistics infrastructure, the corporation plans to collaborate with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to develop a 'future smart cargo terminal' model, targeting operational commencement by 2030. President Kim Kyung-wook stated, "This historic record is the result of government policy support for air logistics development and the dedicated efforts of the corporation, airlines, and logistics companies. We will further strengthen Incheon Airport's future logistics competitiveness and respond promptly in the post-COVID era."