'Global Mega Hub' Incheon Airport... "No Harm to Airline Integrated Mileage"

Incheon Airport Phase 4 Expansion to Complete Within the Year
Preparing for Korean Air-Asiana Integration
"Strict Management of Mileage and Airfares"
GTX-B Groundbreaking... Incheon to Seoul in 30 Minutes

The government will complete the fourth phase expansion of Incheon Airport by October this year. By 2026, it plans to establish an advanced complex aviation cluster behind Incheon Airport, generating a production inducement effect of 10 trillion won over 10 years. It will support the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, laying the foundation for the development of the aviation industry, including low-cost carriers (LCCs). The Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) Line B will also begin construction, significantly transforming Incheon's industrial, living, and cultural landscape.

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated at the 18th Public Livelihood Discussion held at Incheon City Hall on the 7th, "We will actively support Incheon to leap forward as an advanced base for the aviation, shipping, and logistics industries," adding, "We plan to complete the fourth phase expansion of Incheon Airport within this year to elevate it to a global mega-hub airport."

"Expanding the Aviation Economic Territory and Establishing a New Aviation Ecosystem"

Major Transfer Hub at Incheon Airport / Image provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

First, the fourth phase expansion of Incheon Airport, which includes the expansion of the second passenger terminal and runways, will be completed within this year to increase airport capacity by expanding the number of flights per hour. To attract transfer demand from competing airports such as Taiwan and Hong Kong to Incheon, transfer routes connecting domestic carriers’ Southeast Asia-China↔Korea↔USA and Japan↔Korea↔Europe will be linked within three hours. The goal is to develop Incheon Airport into a global mega-hub airport capable of handling 100 million passengers in total.

Behind the airport, an advanced complex aviation cluster capable of hosting world-class aircraft modification and maintenance industries (MRO), similar to those in Germany and Singapore, will be completed by February 2026. Incentives such as 100% exemption from acquisition and property taxes will be provided to resident companies. A 'business jet' terminal will also be established by 2028, with new delegated and operational sectors related to it. Additionally, landmark developments will be carried out around Incheon Airport to make it a place where people stay, not just pass through.

The air routes will be widely opened. Currently, air liberalization agreements have been signed with 50 countries including the USA, Japan, and Southeast Asia (10 countries excluding Indonesia), and this number will be increased to 70 by 2030. Traffic rights will also be expanded to regions with abundant potential demand, such as Southwest Asia, where 24% of the world’s population resides, and Central Asia, where economic cooperation has recently been strengthened.

A smart pass system using biometric information (facial recognition) will be established throughout Incheon Airport, allowing passengers to pass without passports or boarding passes. Additionally, next year, enhanced screening equipment (CT X-ray) capable of detecting liquid explosives will be introduced to allow the carriage of liquids onboard.

Increasing the Brand Value of the Integrated Airline... Strengthening LCC Competitiveness

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines passenger planes parked at Incheon International Airport / Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon also promised regarding the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, "We will ensure that synergies are realized without mileage reductions or fare increases during the process." The merger is awaiting approval from U.S. competition authorities. It has been over three years since Korean Air first reported the corporate merger to 14 competition authorities. It is expected to take about two years from U.S. approval to actual integration.

The government plans to diversify long-haul routes such as Europe and the Americas by distributing overlapping route schedules between the two airlines and support entry into new markets such as Latin America. As of summer 2019, before COVID-19, there were 55 overlapping international routes. The government will also support the signing of partnership agreements on fares and sales between the integrated airline and Delta Air Lines. For regions in the Americas lacking direct national flights, Delta’s network of over 500 trunk routes will be utilized to attract passengers. To enhance transfer efficiency and cooperation among affiliates after integration, Asiana Airlines affiliates currently at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 (T1) will move to Terminal 2 (T2). International fares will be continuously managed under an approval and reporting system, and routes where the integrated airline’s market share is high and monopoly concerns exist will be monitored. Regarding the integration of the two airlines’ mileage programs, which is of greatest interest to consumers, the Fair Trade Commission will review the integration plan in the second half of next year considering consumer rights protection.

Fair competition between LCCs and the integrated airline will also be encouraged to nurture LCCs to the level of 'Asia Top 5.' LCC entry will be supported on 37 routes in 16 countries where alternative carriers are needed, and opportunities for medium- and long-haul flights will be increased. Traffic rights in regions such as Europe, Southwest Asia, and Indonesia, which have been mainly operated by full-service carriers (FSCs), will be allocated to LCCs. Support will also be provided for LCCs to join existing alliance groups or cooperate through codeshare agreements with the integrated airline. Furthermore, LCCs will be enabled to diversify seat classes (business, premium economy, etc.) to absorb business demand on medium- and long-haul routes.

GTX-B Groundbreaking Ceremony... "Expectations for Investment Opportunities and Job Expansion"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Metropolitan Area Express Railway (GTX) Line B held on the 7th at Songdo Convensia in Incheon. / Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group

Following the public livelihood discussion, President Yoon attended the groundbreaking ceremony for GTX Line B held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon and stated, "We will open the era of 30-minute commuting between Incheon and downtown Seoul by opening GTX Line B by 2030." GTX Line B is an 82.8 km route connecting southwestern and northeastern parts of the metropolitan area, starting from Incheon National University Station in Songdo, Incheon, passing through Incheon City Hall, Seoul’s Sindorim, Yeouido, Yongsan, Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni, and Sangbong stations, and extending to Byeollae and Maseok stations in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province. It is planned to have 14 transfer stations. This groundbreaking ceremony was held after the government held over 60 execution strategy meetings and adopted a fast-track approach conducting design and negotiations simultaneously since President Yoon declared the full-scale promotion of the GTX B project in January last year.

President Yoon expressed expectations, saying, "Commercial districts will form around GTX stations, greatly increasing investment opportunities and jobs," and added, "GTX will revolutionize Incheon’s transportation as well as its industrial, living, and cultural landscape." He also pledged, "As an 'action-oriented government' that keeps promises, I will meticulously oversee the construction process until the day GTX Line B opens."

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