Airport Railroad Surpasses 1 Billion Cumulative Passengers... 286,000 Daily Users

The Airport Railroad connecting Seoul Station and Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2 surpassed 1 billion cumulative passengers as of 3 PM on the 31st of last month.

According to Airport Railroad Co., Ltd. on the 3rd, the Airport Railroad, which began its first operation on March 23, 2007, has seen a 30% annual increase in passengers. It surpassed 900 million cumulative passengers on June 13 last year and has continued its growth by reaching 1 billion passengers in just over 11 months.

Although there were difficult times due to the sharp decline in arrivals and restrictions on public transportation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020, the Airport Railroad has established itself as a representative airport-linked transportation service with a daily maximum ridership of about 350,000, thanks to customer-centered service provision and various promotional marketing efforts to increase train usage demand.

In particular, the direct train operating nonstop between Seoul Station and Incheon Airport Terminals 1 and 2 recorded its highest daily ridership since opening on March 29, with 9,738 passengers. Additionally, the Seoul Station City Airport Terminal, where passengers can complete international check-in procedures in advance, is used by an average of 1,160 people daily, marking a 50.1% increase in ridership compared to 2019 before COVID-19.

The Airport Railroad held various events to commemorate reaching 1 billion cumulative passengers.

First, on the 24th of last month, an event was held to present thank-you gifts to customers who used the Airport Railroad direct and regular trains the most. Mr. Lee Jong-wook (33 years old), who used the direct train the most, was awarded a ticket allowing unlimited use of the direct train for 100 days, and Mr. Ahn Sang-yong (55 years old), who used the regular train the most, was given a season ticket for 10 months of unlimited use of the regular train.

Kim Kyung-soon, Head of Operations at Airport Railroad (right), is taking a commemorative photo with citizen Lee Jong-wook after handing over a 100-day pass for the direct train.
[Photo by Airport Railroad]

Also, on the 31st of last month, a customer appreciation concert celebrating the achievement of 1 billion cumulative passengers was held in the underground 3rd-floor waiting room at Seoul Station. Furthermore, from that day until stocks run out, all direct train tickets purchased from automatic ticket machines installed at Seoul Station, Incheon Airport Terminal 1 Station, and Incheon Airport Terminal 2 Station will be issued as '1 Billion Cumulative Passengers Commemorative Tickets.'

In addition, from the 3rd to the 5th, a coupon giveaway event allowing passengers to use the direct train for 10 won over three days will be held on the Airport Railroad website. Among applicants, a lottery will award direct train tickets priced at ▲10 won (10 people), ▲100 won (100 people), ▲1,000 won (1,000 people), and ▲8,000 won (10,000 people).

Kim Jong-dae, Acting President of Airport Railroad, said, "All employees have done their best to ensure safe train operations and improve customer service convenience. We are very pleased to celebrate the 1 billionth meeting between the Airport Railroad and our customers, and we will continue to repay this by operating safe and comfortable trains."