Incheon Airport, Regulation Lifted After 2 Years and 2 Months... 100% Normalization Expected This Fall

The Timeline for 60% Recovery in Daily Passengers Advances... From November-December to Mid-September

On the 3rd, the arrival hall of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport was bustling with overseas arrivals and welcoming guests. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] International flights at Incheon International Airport, which had been reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic, have returned to pre-pandemic levels starting from the 8th, and it is expected that international flights at Incheon International Airport will normalize to usual levels this fall.

According to Incheon International Airport Corporation, all major regulations on increasing international flights, such as arrival slot restrictions and curfew hours, were lifted from 0:00 on this day. This is the first time in 2 years and 2 months since the spread of COVID-19.

However, the lifting of regulations does not mean that flights will immediately increase. Airlines need time for flight schedule approvals and ticket sales periods. In fact, no flights were scheduled to land at Incheon Airport between 0:00 and 5:00 on this day. The corporation expects that the effects of lifting the regulations will appear from mid to late this month, achieving airport normalization one to two months earlier than expected.

Initially, the corporation projected that daily passenger numbers would reach about 30% of the pre-COVID-19 level in 2019 (60,000 passengers) around the peak season in July. However, considering the earlier-than-expected full lifting of flight regulations and the rapid increase in demand, this timing is expected to be moved forward to around mid-month.

When passenger demand recovers to between 60,000 and 120,000, check-in counters will operate up to 80% of total capacity, and convenience facilities up to 70%. Currently, both facilities are managed at below 50%. Additionally, immigration facilities such as security checkpoints and arrival/departure halls, transportation facilities, and commercial facilities will normalize to 60-70%.

The time when daily passengers exceed about 120,000, approximately 60% of the 2019 level, is expected to be moved forward from the originally anticipated November to December period to mid-September. At this time, the airport will be fully normalized, with most major facilities operating at 100% capacity.

The quarantine requirement for overseas arrivals will also be lifted from this day, but testing will remain twice as before and after entry. Before entry, a PCR test or professional rapid antigen test must be taken, and after entry, a PCR test must be taken within 3 days.

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