Gyeongnam Exports Take to the Skies Again from Gimhae Airport Starting July 1

Resumption of Operations at Gimhae Airport International Cargo Terminal

Fresh agricultural products and automobile parts from Gyeongnam will take to the skies again starting July 1.

Gyeongnam Province announced on the 27th that from that day, the operation of the Gimhae Airport international cargo terminal will resume, enabling cargo exports via air transport.

According to the province, the Gimhae Airport international cargo terminal, which was leased and operated by Korean Air, was closed from April 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, blocking air export routes.

Export goods requiring air cargo, such as fresh agricultural products like strawberries produced in Gyeongnam, automobile parts, and electronic products, had to use Incheon Airport, causing difficulties for farmers and manufacturers in managing freshness and increased logistics costs, thereby affecting competitiveness.

In response, since January, Gyeongnam Province has continuously requested the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Assembly, Korea Airports Corporation, and Korean Air to resume the operation of the international cargo terminal. They also held meetings with Korean Air management, the Gimhae Airport Air Cargo Revitalization Council of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and seminars at the National Assembly, ultimately bearing fruit in the form of the terminal’s reopening.

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Along with the resumption of the international cargo terminal operation, the province plans to deploy and operate large B787 passenger aircraft on Vietnam Airlines’ Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City routes, expecting this to help revitalize air exports of local products.

Through this reopening, the province aims to activate air exports, expand international passenger routes, and promote the operation of large aircraft.

Since international cargo-only flights have not operated due to insufficient cargo volume, only cargo exports using the passenger aircraft’s lower deck (belly cargo) have been possible. To overcome Gimhae Airport’s limitations, where the difference in belly cargo capacity necessitates the operation of large passenger aircraft, efforts will be made.

Expanding international passenger routes and introducing large aircraft are set as key tasks for airport revitalization. The province will continue consultations with related organizations such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Airports Corporation, and airlines, and plans to secure air cargo from within the province and nearby areas to achieve the operation of large aircraft.

Kim Young-sam, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, said, “The resumption of air exports at Gimhae Airport is directly related to the interests and convenience of the residents and is the result of our province’s proactive efforts. We will work with neighboring local governments to secure stable air cargo throughout the year to maintain air export routes and cooperate with airlines to expand passenger routes and introduce large passenger aircraft.”

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