Incheon Airport Sets All-Time Daily Record with 240,000 Passengers... Boost from Chinese Tourists

The daily passenger count at Incheon International Airport Corporation has nearly reached 240,000, setting a new all-time record since the airport’s opening. The increase in Chinese tourists due to visa-free entry has contributed to the rise in airport users, yet the airport maintained stable operations as usual.

On January 5, Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that on January 4, the daily passenger count reached 239,530 (provisional), breaking the previous all-time daily passenger record since Incheon Airport’s opening in 2001.

This figure is more than 5,000 higher than the previous record of 234,171 set during the summer peak season on August 4, 2019, and represents an increase of approximately 13.7% compared to the same day last year (210,891).

By country, China recorded the highest year-on-year growth rate at 49.2%, driven by both visa-free entry and increased outbound travel by Korean nationals. Other Chinese-speaking regions in Northeast Asia (Hong Kong and Taiwan) also saw an increase of 24.0%. In contrast, Southeast Asia recorded a relatively low growth rate of 1.7%, despite the winter peak season, due to the recent situation in Cambodia and other factors.

Incheon Airport Terminal 1 exterior view. Courtesy of Incheon International Airport Corporation

Despite achieving a record-high passenger count, far surpassing previous holiday and summer peak seasons, Incheon Airport enhanced passenger convenience by maintaining operations as usual.

On January 4, the average waiting time at the departure hall of Terminal 1 was 7.9 minutes, and the maximum waiting time was 42 minutes, reflecting congestion levels similar to normal days.

Regarding this, the corporation stated, “This achievement is the result of the dedication of more than 85,000 airport employees, including those from the Ministry of Justice, Customs, Quarantine Office, airlines, tenant companies, and subsidiaries, who did their best to provide the highest level of airport service to the public.”

In particular, the expansion of automated devices such as Smart Pass, the enhancement of security screening staff’s work proficiency and the addition of new personnel, as well as the expansion of the No. 1 departure hall in Terminal 1 and the No. 1 departure hall in Terminal 2, were all cited as effective efforts to alleviate congestion through facility and staffing improvements.

Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, “I am grateful to the more than 85,000 airport family members whose hard work made stable airport operations possible despite the highest passenger numbers since opening. As demand for travel to Korea continues to grow, especially from Asian countries, thanks to the government’s proactive overseas tourism promotion policies, we will further enhance airport convenience for foreign visitors by overhauling foreign language signage, strengthening guide staff, and thoroughly inspecting key facilities and operational systems.”