During Lunar New Year Holiday, Incheon Airport Sees Average Daily Traffic of 214,000... "Special Traffic Measures Implemented"

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 21st that it will implement special traffic measures for the Lunar New Year holiday in cooperation with related organizations for ten days from the 24th of this month to the 2nd of next month. In response to recent complaints that boarding a plane takes 3 to 4 hours, the corporation decided to open the departure and arrival halls earlier and expand the operation of security checkpoints.

Last September, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the duty-free area at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 was bustling with travelers. / Photo by Yonhap News

According to Incheon Airport Corporation, a total of 2,141,000 people are expected to use Incheon Airport during this period. This averages about 214,000 people per day, the highest daily average for the Lunar New Year holiday since the airport opened. This is 12.8% more than last year’s Lunar New Year holiday (190,000 people) and about 6% higher compared to 2019 (202,000 people), before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The day with the highest number of users during the holiday is predicted to be the 25th of this month, with 228,000 people using Incheon Airport. Departing passengers are expected to reach 124,000. The day with the highest number of arriving passengers is expected to be the 30th, with 121,000 arrivals.

To enhance passenger convenience and ensure safe airport operations, Incheon Airport Corporation will open the departure and arrival halls earlier to extend operating hours. Security checkpoints will also be expanded beyond the current capacity to alleviate terminal congestion. Approximately 671 check-in guidance and support staff will be deployed, which is 117 more than usual. Four additional volunteer information desks will be set up, and operations at 24 food and beverage outlets will be expanded. The Smart Pass (facial recognition departure service) and Easy Drop services will be made easier to use. Passengers can register for Smart Pass through various platforms, including the airport app and self-check-in kiosks.

Incheon Airport Corporation will also strengthen illegal parking enforcement to manage curbside congestion, open temporary parking lots, and operate parking lots flexibly according to demand. The corporation encourages airport users to use public transportation. Additionally, special inspections of key facilities such as check-in, baggage handling, and security equipment have been completed. To prepare for adverse winter weather, the flood and wind disaster control room will operate 24 hours a day, and a special traffic countermeasure headquarters will be run to take immediate initial action in case of emergencies.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon Airport Corporation, said, "Since the daily average number of passengers during this year’s Lunar New Year holiday is expected to be the highest since the airport opened, we plan to make every effort to provide safe and convenient airport services." He added, "We ask that passengers actively use public transportation and various smart services."

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