[Report] First Operation of 'China-Only Immigration Lane'... Busy with Declarations and Contact Verification

Generally Smooth, but Delays in Contact Verification Due to USIM and Connection Issues
"Widespread Agreement on the Necessity of the Measure"

Passengers arriving on flights from China are entering through a dedicated immigration lane installed on the 4th at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, wearing masks. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Incheon Airport = Reporter Jehoon Yoo] "If you don't have phone number, You can not go."

On February 4, Incheon International Airport began full operation of a dedicated immigration lane for passengers arriving from China, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia). Despite the confusion on the first day of implementation, health authorities at the scene were busy assisting foreign passengers disembarking from flights from China with document completion and verifying their contact information.

At 12:40 a.m. on February 4, Korean Air flight KE854 from Beijing arrived at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport in Jung-gu, Incheon. KE854 was the first flight from China to use the dedicated immigration lane after its launch, carrying over 100 passengers. Most of the passengers disembarking from the plane were wearing masks as they proceeded to the quarantine area, and some were also wearing goggles.

Previously, health authorities and Incheon International Airport Corporation had completed the installation of dedicated immigration facilities at three locations: the A and F arrival halls in Terminal 1, and the A arrival hall in Terminal 2, working late into the previous night. Temporary partitions were set up in these dedicated areas to minimize contact with general passengers, and communication equipment was installed to verify foreign passengers' contact information.

Upon reaching the quarantine area, Korean passengers were instructed to submit a 'Health Questionnaire,' while foreign passengers were required to additionally fill out a 'Special Quarantine Declaration.' The special declaration required foreign nationals to provide their local address in Korea, mobile phone number, and indicate whether they had stayed in Hubei Province. At the same time, they underwent checks for fever and respiratory symptoms. Those who completed the procedures were issued a 'Quarantine Confirmation Certificate.'

There were also scenes of confusion throughout the area. Some passengers had to repeat the quarantine process due to incomplete documentation, while others struggled with contact verification. However, it was reported that none of the approximately 100 passengers on that flight showed symptoms such as fever or failed to provide a verifiable contact number.

At around 7:39 a.m., Air Busan flight BX310 arrived at the satellite concourse of Terminal 1, having departed from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China. Guangdong has the second highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China after Hubei. Of the roughly 40 passengers, about 30 were foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens.

These passengers underwent quarantine procedures, including fever screening, at the concourse. Since passengers arriving at the concourse, which is mainly used by low-cost carriers (LCCs), must take a shuttle train to Terminal 1, foreign passengers who were confirmed to have no symptoms were given badges bearing the Incheon International Airport Corporation logo. According to quarantine authorities, this was to prevent foreign passengers arriving on flights from China from mistakenly entering the general immigration area amid the complex passenger flow.

At around 8:20 a.m., about 10 of these foreign passengers, accompanied by three Ministry of Health and Welfare staff members, arrived at Terminal 1. They proceeded directly to the F arrival hall, where they completed the special quarantine declaration and contact verification process.

As with the first arrivals, there was considerable confusion. In particular, delays frequently occurred during the contact verification process. While most passengers were able to verify their contact information without issue and proceed to immigration, some experienced difficulties due to technical problems. A Chinese man in his 20s whom we met at the scene had to remain in the dedicated inspection area for about 20 minutes because his contact number could not be verified. As such situations persisted, it took about 45 minutes to process the procedures for approximately 30 foreign passengers.

A Ministry of Health and Welfare official dispatched to the site explained, "So far, there have been no cases of entry being denied due to lack of a phone number (at the F area site)," adding, "However, there are many cases where technical issues, such as USIM or roaming problems, cause delays in verifying contact information."

As it was the first day of implementation, passengers, airline staff, and airport officials were still unfamiliar with the dedicated immigration lane for arrivals from China. There were also cases where Korean passengers or those on non-China routes entered the dedicated inspection area without realizing the situation. In one instance, a passenger from a China-bound flight without a contact number was, after about 10 minutes of confusion, identified as a transit passenger.

However, overall, there was widespread agreement that the new measure was necessary. A flight attendant from a domestic airline whom we met at the airport said, "Perhaps because it is the first day, I am not fully familiar with the process," but added, "Given the high level of anxiety about the novel coronavirus, I think this is a well-implemented measure."

Incheon Airport = Reporter Jehoon Yoo kalamal@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.