"Incheon Airport Expects Record-Breaking Winter with Flight Operations Returning to Normal"

Expected Number of Operations Approximately 193,000 Times

The supply of airline seats at Incheon Airport is expected to be fully normalized this winter.

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 21st that the number of slot allocations for winter 2023 (the number of times airlines applied to operate flights during the period) was recorded at a record high of 193,000 times.

The corporation participated in the 'International Air Transport Association (IATA) Slot Coordination Meeting' held for three days from the 13th (local time) at the Dublin Convention Centre in Ireland to discuss the flight operation schedule for the 2023 winter season (late October to late March next year).

On the 14th (local time), at the 152nd IATA Slot Coordination Meeting held at the Dublin Convention Centre in Ireland, Kim Gi-ok (right), Deputy Manager of the Slot Operations Team at Incheon International Airport Corporation, is consulting with overseas airline officials regarding slot coordination at Incheon Airport.
[Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation]

As a result of the meeting, the number of slot allocations at Incheon Airport was 193,163 times, an 85% increase compared to 104,603 times during the same period last year. This figure is also 14.7% higher than the pre-COVID-19 peak of 168,406 times in the same period of 2018. It is expected to achieve the highest flight operation record since the opening of Incheon Airport.

[Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation]

Flight frequencies are expected to exceed the 2018 levels in all regions, with the China route showing the highest growth rate at 20.9%. Passenger numbers on the Incheon-China route in May reached 315,000, still only 28.1% of the May 2019 level. However, slot applications have surged significantly.

The corporation negotiated schedule allocations with a record total of 79 airlines, including 62 passenger airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Saudia, as well as 17 cargo airlines including Atlas Air, Amerijet International, and DHL.

[Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation]

Active discussions were also held for new winter 2023 route launches. Many airlines such as Mongolian Airways, Air Vistara, AirAsia, and Loong Air have expressed their desire to launch new routes at Incheon Airport, making new winter launches likely. Future demand preparations were also discussed with airlines that have expressed intentions to launch after 2024, including Swiss International Air Lines, Riyadh Air, Virgin Atlantic, and StarLux Airlines.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, “Interest from leading global airlines in Incheon Airport has increased further following the normalization after COVID-19, and the recovery of air routes and expansion of transfer passengers are expected to accelerate.” He added, “We will thoroughly prepare for internal and external variables such as the merger of domestic airlines, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the construction of Incheon Airport Phase 4, and will accelerate efforts to attract 30 million tourists by 2027 through fair and transparent slot allocation.”