[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that as expectations for overseas travel rise due to the government’s exemption of quarantine for overseas arrivals, it will proceed with a phased normalization of airport operations. The goal is to establish a foundation for the early recovery of air travel demand through proposals for the gradual easing of quarantine policies.
On the 25th, Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon Airport Corporation, stated this during a regular press briefing held at the Incheon Airport terminal.
Incheon Airport’s international passenger traffic was approximately 70.58 million in 2019. However, due to COVID-19, the numbers dropped by 83% and 95% compared to 2019, recording 11.96 million and 3.19 million passengers in 2020 and last year, respectively. Recently, passenger numbers have been increasing following the government’s quarantine exemption for arrivals. In the first quarter, passenger traffic reached 1,086,158, a 94% increase compared to the same period last year. From January 1 to 14 (provisional), the number was 270,378, a 229% increase compared to the same period last year.
The corporation plans to restore international flight operations to 50% of pre-pandemic levels within the year, expecting the recent upward trend in demand to accelerate further. It anticipates that air travel demand will fully recover starting in July, when summer vacations begin. The annual passenger demand for this year is projected to be about 24 million, approximately 34% of the 2019 level. Consequently, the average daily passenger forecast for July is about 81,000, recovering to 40% of the 2019 level. After November, it is expected to exceed 70% of the 2019 average daily passenger volume.
In response to this travel demand, the corporation will normalize airport operations in three stages based on a daily passenger volume of 60,000. Stage 1 involves preparing to flexibly expand operations from the current reduced state due to COVID-19 according to passenger demand. Stage 2, expected between July and October, will expand facilities to respond timely to demand recovery: departure halls (8 total) will operate at 63?75%, arrival halls (6 total) at 85%, and passenger convenience facilities (10 total) at 91% (109 locations). Stage 3, anticipated around November to December, will see major airport facilities fully normalized to pre-COVID-19 levels as daily passenger demand recovers to over 70% of pre-pandemic figures.
The corporation plans to strive for early recovery of air travel demand. It will support the restoration of overseas travel sentiment and normalization of key routes to establish a foundation for the swift recovery of suppressed air travel demand. Additionally, it intends to propose to the government the need for a phased easing of quarantine measures and continue related consultations with the aviation industry.
Considering the burden on citizens due to PCR testing for overseas travel, the corporation argued for a gradual relaxation of PCR testing for arrivals. For example, a family of four incurs about 1 million KRW in PCR testing costs alone when traveling abroad. It also explained the need to lift operational restrictions on arrival times for flights landing at Incheon Airport to better manage quarantine for arrivals.
Furthermore, as air routes are reopening rapidly among Northeast Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan, the corporation plans to leverage this opportunity to revitalize the airport. President Kim emphasized, “Our country is reopening faster than China and Japan, so we will strengthen marketing efforts to secure recovering air travel demand in the East Asian region.”
To this end, the corporation plans to differentiate Incheon Airport from other airlines to attract passengers. He explained, “As global service standards are leveling up, Incheon Airport needs more distinctive elements. We will add cultural experiences in addition to convenience.”
President Kim stated, “With the government’s easing of quarantine measures, passengers planning overseas travel after a long time will be able to use Incheon Airport safely and conveniently. We will closely coordinate with related agencies to ensure the phased normalization of Incheon Airport operations proceeds smoothly.”
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