Incheon Airport Corporation Introduces Korea's First 'Ground Handling Equipment' Sharing System at Domestic Airports

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 20th that it will pilot the 'Ground Handling Equipment Sharing System' within the year, the first of its kind at a domestic airport, to advance the ground handling environment for aircraft.

The Ground Handling Equipment Sharing System is a plan where the airport operator, the corporation, procures high-cost eco-friendly, high-quality equipment used for ground handling and rents it out to each operator while also managing maintenance. Ground handling is a general term for tasks necessary for aircraft takeoff and landing, consisting of various fields such as baggage loading, aircraft refueling and inspection, in-flight meals, and cabin cleaning.

According to the corporation, most ground handling equipment is expensive and many are outdated. Each operator owns equipment for the same tasks, causing issues such as increased carbon emissions and risks due to redundant equipment being left unused.

Through this project, the corporation expects to replace outdated equipment with high-quality, eco-friendly products and share them among operators, aiming to ▲reduce carbon emissions ▲prevent duplicate investments by each ground handling company ▲improve work environment congestion. Ultimately, the plan is to enhance ground handling safety and modernize the work environment.

The corporation will finalize the scale and types of shared equipment through detailed consultations with ground handling operators in the first half of this year and plans to select operating companies and pilot the equipment sharing system within the year.

In overseas airports, the equipment sharing system is actively utilized at Hong Kong International Airport and London Luton Airport in the UK. Hong Kong International Airport introduced the equipment sharing system in 2018 and plans to share about 1,000 pieces of equipment by 2023. London Luton Airport reduced ground handling costs by 77% through the introduction of the equipment sharing system.

Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, “Based on close cooperation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and ground handling companies, we will introduce the equipment sharing system for the first time at a domestic airport to advance the ground handling environment, reduce carbon emissions, and practice ESG management for a safe, accident-free airport and an eco-friendly airport.”