Fines Imposed on Corporations Including Airports and Airlines Violating Safety Management Standards

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 13th that it will amend and enforce the 'Airport Facilities Act' and its Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rules (hereinafter referred to as the Airport Facilities Act Regulations) starting from the 14th to strengthen the prevention of ground safety accidents within airports and to eradicate illegal flying drones around airports.

The apron is being unveiled at the 'Incheon Airport Phase 4 Construction and Test Operation Site' held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. / Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The amendment to the Airport Facilities Act Regulations first mandates that corporations such as ground handling companies operating within airports must comply with safety management standards to prevent ground safety accidents. Until now, only individual workers performing tasks were obligated to comply with safety management standards, but going forward, the corporations to which the workers belong must also fulfill their duties and responsibilities. Corporations violating the standards will be subject to fines of up to 4 million KRW.

Corporations include airport operators, air carriers, aircraft maintenance providers, ground handling companies, and others responsible for the maintenance and repair of airport facilities, aircraft maintenance, and refueling. They must immediately report any ground safety accidents and manage operating vehicles and equipment to ensure they do not exceed passenger capacity or cargo load limits.

Obligatory safety management standards also include establishing standard operating procedures for tasks performed by workers, conducting safety inspections on operating vehicles and equipment, and installing safety devices. Corporations must conduct regular safety training for at least 12 hours annually, and if a worker violates safety management standards, they must provide special safety training for at least 2 hours upon request from the regional aviation office chief.

The amendment also allows for mitigation or exemption of criminal liability for airport operators, etc., in cases where unexpected human or property damage occurs during efforts to eradicate illegal flying drones around airports. If third parties suffer loss of life, bodily injury, or property damage such as destruction or impairment of goods, airport operators must first compensate (within 60 days from the claim date) and then exercise subrogation rights against the individuals who illegally flew the drones.

Lee Sang-il, Director of Airport Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "Since the beginning and end of airport services stem from safety, we will strive to ensure that various activities conducted both inside and outside the airport proceed more safely, not only for airport workers but for all involved."