Flight Departures Clustered in the Morning, Causing Temporary Bottlenecks
Winter Season and New Equipment Lead to Staff Shortages
Incheon Airport Corporation: "Additional Staffing and Long-term Solutions Planned"
Mr. A, who recently visited Vietnam, was quite flustered while departing through Incheon International Airport. The check-in process took longer than expected, making the boarding time tight. Mr. A said, "It felt like it took nearly an hour to get through the security checkpoint," and added, "I arrived about three hours before the departure time, but I didn't expect it to be this tight."
Complaints about departure delays at Incheon International Airport are growing. Despite expanding and increasing facilities, passengers are reportedly having to wait even longer. This contrasts with last year when Incheon International Airport Corporation emphasized that 95% of passengers took only 30 minutes and 41 seconds to enter the departure hall after issuing their boarding passes and complete security and passport checks.
The main cause is analyzed to be the concentration of travelers during the winter peak season. A representative from Incheon International Airport Corporation said on the 15th, "During school vacations and the year-end and New Year peak season, customers tend to concentrate at specific times." Additionally, since most people wear thick coats in winter, the physical security inspection time has also increased.
In particular, congestion has worsened at Terminal 2, which reopened after expansion on the 3rd of last month. With Jin Air moving into Terminal 2 in 2023, overlapping departure times with Korean Air between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and Asiana Airlines also planning to move to Terminal 2, the crowd concentration is expected to intensify.
Foreign travelers are also voicing complaints. Andreas Bergman recently wrote in a Google Maps review, "Even at 5 a.m., it took a lot of time at the security checkpoint," and criticized, "For such a large international airport, this is quite disappointing."
The airport corporation states that it is difficult to concentrate manpower during those peak times. A representative from Incheon Airport Corporation explained, "If we arrange shifts to concentrate staff at specific times, essential personnel may be insufficient during the afternoon hours," adding, "Ultimately, the total number of staff needs to be increased." However, the corporation added that about 110 new employees will join around February, and they plan to deploy them to alleviate congestion somewhat and devise long-term measures.
On the 13th, one day before the Chuseok holiday, Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 departure hall is bustling with crowds heading overseas during the holiday period. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@
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