Incheon Airport Terminal 2 Expansion Opening from December
Korean Air and Asiana to Complete Merger Within the Year and Move Terminals
Terminal 1 Congestion Expected to Continue Until First Half of Next Year
There are projections that Asiana Airlines' move to Incheon International Airport's Terminal 2 could be possible as early as July next year. Plans are underway to use a single terminal following the merger with Korean Air, but even if the merger is completed within this year, the relocation will take a considerable amount of time. The congestion at Terminal 1, which is relatively busy, is also expected to continue until the first half of next year.
According to industry sources on the 15th, Incheon International Airport Corporation is preparing to move Asiana Airlines from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, where Korean Air is currently based. It is reported that the corporation has already included this plan in next year's business agenda. The expansion of Terminal 2 will be completed and opened at the end of this month, and with the ongoing merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the terminal primarily used by the airlines will change. Incheon International Airport Corporation plans to hold an opening ceremony for the expansion at the end of this month with key government officials in attendance, and then begin full operations starting next month.
However, using a single terminal will likely be difficult for the time being, even if the equity acquisition procedures are completed within this year. Not only must employee office spaces be relocated, but passenger service systems for check-in and ticketing, as well as reservation management systems, must also be moved. Typically, these systems have contracts with external service providers, so time is needed to renew these agreements. Physically, dedicated communication networks must be reinstalled, requiring coordination with Incheon Airport and the contractors performing the work. A representative from Incheon International Airport Corporation explained, "Considering all the necessary tasks following the European Commission's final approval of the Korean Air and Asiana Airlines merger, we expect Asiana Airlines' terminal relocation to take place after July next year."
The congestion at Terminal 1 is unlikely to ease anytime soon. Currently, out of 79 airlines operating at Incheon Airport, 70 are based in Terminal 1. Only nine airlines, including Korean Air, Jin Air, and Delta Air Lines, are based in Terminal 2. As of last year, Terminal 1 accounted for 69.2% (38.83 million) of passengers, while Terminal 2 accounted for 30.8% (17.3 million). Asiana Airlines uses four lounges, a 5,349㎡ office space, 23 dedicated counters, and 47 parking stands at Terminal 1.
With the expansion of Terminal 2, its capacity will increase from 23 million to 52 million passengers annually. Low-cost carriers (LCCs) affiliated with Asiana Airlines, such as Air Busan and Air Seoul, are also preparing to relocate to the terminal.
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