Incheon Airport Operates Korea's First Ground Handling Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

16 Charging Infrastructures for Electric Work Vehicles

Incheon International Airport Corporation has established a shared charging infrastructure for eco-friendly ground handling vehicles in the apron area (aircraft ground movement area) within the airport. This is the first official operation of its kind at a domestic airport. The infrastructure is an essential facility for operating electric ground handling vehicles. As a result, the introduction of eco-friendly electric ground handling vehicles within the airport is expected to expand.

The shared charging infrastructure operating at the apron of the Incheon Airport boarding terminal.
[Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation]

At Incheon Airport, each ground handling company operates about 1,000 diesel ground handling vehicles. More than 50% of these vehicles are over 10 years old and have been identified as a major source of fine dust emissions within the airport. In January 2020, the corporation signed a business agreement with the five major domestic ground handling companies to convert diesel vehicles to electric vehicles, setting a goal to achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Starting with this operation, the shared charging infrastructure is planned to be expanded to more than 150 units by 2027.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, “The launch of the first eco-friendly ground handling vehicle charging infrastructure at a domestic airport is a valuable achievement made possible through collaboration between the corporation and ground handling companies.” He added, “We will continue to work closely with related organizations to lead low-carbon and eco-friendly airport operations.”