[Report] "First Time Since Opening" Incheon Airport Engulfed in Silence Due to COVID-19

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The arrival hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport is quiet on the 6th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Incheon International Airport=Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] "It seems to be the first time the airport has been this quiet since its opening. Even during the 9/11 attacks, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreaks, it was never this empty."

At 9 a.m. on the 6th, at the departure hall on the 3rd floor of Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport in Jung-gu, Incheon. Normally, this place would be bustling with travelers heading overseas ahead of the weekend, but the atmosphere was noticeably quiet. There was no sign of the long, crowded queues for check-in. Only a few employees of the shops located in the departure hall were standing idly. A pharmacist who has been working at the airport for 10 years said, "Sales have dropped to a quarter," and added, "One airline operated a 300-seat plane, but only 6 passengers boarded. With such a decrease in passengers, it's impossible to sustain."

The arrival hall felt more than just quiet; it was almost 'silent.' Not a single customer was seen at a restaurant located in the center of the arrival hall. This is a rare sight at an airport that serves over 200,000 passengers daily. Park Mo (22, female), a clerk, said, "Usually, between 5 and 8 a.m., the busiest hours, we serve about 400 tables, but today, from 1 a.m. until now (9 a.m.), we only had about 30 tables," adding, "Recently, even the staff from resident agencies rarely come, so sales have dropped to about one-tenth."

Incheon International Airport, the gateway to South Korea and the world's fifth-largest airport, is facing a shutdown crisis. This is due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which has led 102 countries worldwide to strengthen entry restrictions on travelers from Korea. As the airport freezes, airlines, ground handling companies, duty-free shops, and food and beverage outlets are all crying out in distress.

The quietness at Incheon International Airport is largely due to the entry restrictions imposed by various countries on travelers from Korea amid the COVID-19 outbreak. According to Incheon International Airport Corporation, the number of passengers using Incheon Airport yesterday, combining Terminals 1 and 2, was only 30,248. This represents an 82.9% decrease compared to the same period last year. Flights also dropped by 54.4%, totaling 501 flights.

The situation is expected to be no different on this day, the start of the weekend. The airport corporation forecasts passenger numbers to remain around 33,500. A corporation official explained, "This is due to strengthened entry restrictions on travelers from Korea because of COVID-19." Starting with Japan yesterday, as major countries tighten entry restrictions on travelers from Korea, the airport inevitably faces a crisis.

On the 6th, illegal foreign residents are lining up to voluntarily report their departure at the Ministry of Justice Immigration Service Center in Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

Even within the silent airport, an unexpected scene unfolded. In front of the Ministry of Justice Immigration Service Center located in the center of the departure hall, about 200 travelers were causing confusion. Although somewhat surprising, the curiosity was quickly resolved. These were illegal residents preparing to depart, waiting to voluntarily report themselves.

A (33), originally from Bangladesh and who had been living undocumented in the Gwangju metropolitan area, said, "It's not so much fear of COVID-19, but since the outbreak, work has completely stopped. Friends around me (undocumented foreigners) are also considering returning home due to lack of work," adding, "I plan to come back once the situation settles." A Ministry of Justice official said, "Normally, there isn't such a long line," and added, "From 6 a.m. until now, about 600 people have received numbers to voluntarily report."

With air routes blocked, the crisis is gradually spreading to related industries. Airlines that have suspended 60-70% of their routes, ground handling companies, duty-free shops with no customers, and food and beverage outlets are representative examples. The travel and tourism industry is no exception.

Industry insiders unanimously call for strong government support measures. They say the situation can no longer be resolved by self-help measures. An industry official emphasized, "If this situation continues for several months, more airlines and ground handling companies will collapse," adding, "Since it takes considerable time to restore the collapsed industrial ecosystem, active measures are necessary."

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