Incheon Airport Evolves as the World's Third Airport to Accommodate 100 Million Passengers Annually

Completion of 4-Phase Construction Project Taking 7 Years
Digital Integration Including Smart Pass and Smart Control
Outdoor Space Available for Enjoyment After Departure Screening

On the 28th, the boarding concourse was unveiled at the 'Incheon Airport Phase 4 Construction and Test Operation Site Opening' held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Incheon International Airport will soon complete its fourth-phase construction project, increasing its passenger capacity to 100 million. By leveraging various digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the airport aims to become a world-class "smart airport" and establish itself as an "exciting airport" by preparing diverse cultural content.

On the 28th, the fourth-phase construction area of Terminal 2 at Incheon International Airport in Jung-gu, Incheon, revealed its near-final form. The expansion of Terminal 2, which began in 2017, is approximately 97% complete. Efforts are being fully concentrated on completing the remaining 3% of the work, targeting completion by the end of October.

Once construction is finished, Incheon Airport's annual international passenger handling capacity will increase to 106 million, a 37.6% rise from the current 77 million. This achievement will fulfill the original goal of "100 million annual passengers" set over 30 years ago when the airport's construction began in 1992. As of this year, airports with an annual passenger capacity exceeding 100 million include only Istanbul Airport in Turkey (150 million) and Dubai Airport in the United Arab Emirates (118 million).

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, is explaining the construction status at the 'Incheon Airport Phase 4 Construction and Test Operation Site Disclosure' held on the 28th at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, who personally introduced the site that day, stated, "Surpassing 100 million passengers will elevate Incheon Airport beyond a Northeast Asian hub to become one of the world's three largest mega airports." He emphasized, "With our experience in building the world's best airport, we plan to pursue overseas projects to build and operate at least 10 airports worldwide by 2030."

Through this fourth-phase construction project, Incheon Airport will first transform into a "smart airport." Services such as smart check-in and smart security screening will be introduced to shorten processing times. This is expected to reduce the target processing times recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) ? 60 minutes for departure and 45 minutes for arrival ? to 40 minutes each for both departure and arrival. The airport also plans to reduce aircraft delays. By adding one runway and introducing a smart apron control system, aircraft runway occupancy time will decrease from 72 seconds to 56 seconds.

On the 28th, the Garden Tip courtyard was unveiled at the 'Incheon Airport Phase 4 Construction and Test Operation Site Opening' held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Incheon International Airport Corporation also promotes the airport as an "exciting airport." They have differentiated the airport by creating spaces where various contents can be enjoyed throughout the terminal. A 75-meter-long kinetic sculpture consisting of 480 moving pillars has been installed on the ceiling of the baggage drop and check-in area. After completing departure procedures, passengers can enjoy outdoor gardens near the east and west boarding gates of Terminal 2. The intention is to allow passengers to experience openness outdoors even while waiting to board their flights. President Lee explained, "The garden was modeled after Seungjaejeong in the rear garden of Changdeokgung Palace," adding, "Foreign visitors will also be able to appreciate the beauty of traditional Korean architecture within the airport."

On the 28th, the arrival hall was unveiled at the 'Incheon Airport Phase 4 Construction and Test Operation Site Opening' held at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Large-scale electronic display boards will be installed in both the departure and arrival halls. In the arrival hall, a 60-meter-wide by 6-meter-high display board will show flight arrival statuses using various graphics instead of text, a world first. In the departure hall, an even larger high-definition display board measuring 78 meters wide and 10 meters high will be installed. Five custom-made videos commissioned by Incheon International Airport Corporation will be shown on this screen. Jeon Young-geun, Head of Electrical and Telecommunications at the Construction Project Division of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, "We will showcase videos on five themes ? Korea's beauty, traditional culture, history, and future ? on an ultra-high-resolution screen, and eventually, advertisements may also be displayed. This will become an important landmark attraction at Incheon International Airport."

These facilities will undergo trial operations until September, followed by an operational evaluation in October. After consultations with related agencies, all facilities are planned to be fully opened by the end of the year. President Lee pledged, "We will concentrate our company-wide capabilities to prepare the fourth-phase project without any setbacks," adding, "Based on this project, which is comparable to a second airport opening, we will provide the public with world-class services."

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