Digital Airport Innovation... Incheon Airport Declares the '4.0 Era'

Completion of the Hyperconnected Mobility Hub

On the morning of the 1st, Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation (fourth from the left), and attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the 'Incheon Airport Vision 2040 Declaration Ceremony' held in the main auditorium of the Incheon International Airport Corporation building. (Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation)

Incheon Airport announced new long-term goals, aiming to transform into a large-scale digital airport and establish itself as a hyper-connected mobility hub.

On the 1st, Incheon International Airport Corporation held the 'Incheon Airport Vision 2040 Proclamation Ceremony' at the main auditorium of the terminal, unveiling this future strategy. Through this, they plan to advance into the 'Incheon Airport 4.0 Era.'

The goal of the Incheon Airport 4.0 Era is to 'create new value through the airport.' The plan is to expand the airport's role as a space where technology and innovation are produced and transported, based on the advanced development of the airport and its surrounding areas. The 2.0 Era was about being the 'world-class aviation transportation facility,' and the goal of the 3.0 Era was to 'provide differentiated experiences.'

Moving into the 4.0 Era, they aim to generate economic ripple effects at the national level, present a 'future airport image' that attracts talent and companies, and play the role of a 'game changer' leading future changes.

Under the slogan "Beyond the airport, changing the world," the corporation announced four major strategies and three focus tasks. The four major strategies are ▲Digital Airport Innovation ▲Completion of a Hyper-connected Mobility Hub ▲Creation of a Convergent Innovation Ecosystem ▲Leap to an Airport Specialized Group.

First, based on accelerating digital transformation technologies such as big data, digital twins, robots, and artificial intelligence (AI), they plan to build new airport infrastructure reflecting future environmental changes like net zero (carbon emission zero). They intend to complete a hyper-connected mobility hub where passengers and cargo gather and connect, based on new airport services and customer experiences.

Additionally, they will promote creative innovation beyond the boundaries of airport-related industries and other sectors, and expand overseas ventures based on this. To effectively respond to future changes, they plan to innovate the management system and leap forward as an airport specialized group.

The three focus tasks for this are ▲Digital Transformation ▲Eco-friendly Net Zero ▲AI Innovation Hub. As an AI innovation hub, they plan to become a platform where talent, technology, industry, and culture converge, while also pioneering the hydrogen economy. From the perspective of business diversification, they aim to achieve world No.1 status in logistics and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) and become a global airport specialized group operating more than 10 overseas airports.

In terms of airport operations, based on an AI-based comprehensive airport operation and situation management system (TAM), they expect to have world-class air transport capacity and differentiated access transportation that allows reaching anywhere nationwide within two hours.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, "By 2040, Incheon Airport will create innovation in all fields of industry, technology, and environment, lead the future based on innovation, and practice sustainable management, ultimately becoming an airport that changes the world. We will build a completely new future for Incheon Airport, different from the past, together with the strength that has built the world’s best airport."