Incheon Airport Corporation Conducts Comprehensive Inspection Ahead of Second Runway Reopening

Incheon Airport to Resume Operations on Second Runway by End of September

On August 6, Incheon International Airport Corporation announced that it had conducted a joint comprehensive test operation with related agencies in preparation for the full resumption of operations on the second runway, following the completion of its repaving project.

The comprehensive test operation, held on August 5 at Incheon Airport's second runway, was attended by more than 70 key officials, including Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, who oversaw the inspection, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Seoul Regional Office of Aviation, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korean Air, Korea Civil Pilots Association, and Korea Airports Corporation.

During the comprehensive test operation, an actual aircraft was used to taxi along the second runway, thoroughly inspecting all elements necessary for safe flight operations. This included checking the condition of the runway and taxiway pavement, the accuracy of guidance markings, and the proper functioning of aviation lighting systems.

The corporation plans to conduct six additional comprehensive test operations (three days, both daytime and nighttime). Based on the results, any deficiencies will be addressed, with the goal of fully resuming operations on Incheon Airport's second runway by the end of September.

On the 5th, at the site of Incheon Airport's Runway 2, Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation (tenth from the right in the front row in the photo), and related personnel are taking a commemorative photo after the comprehensive test operation in preparation for the reopening of Runway 2. Provided by Incheon Airport Corporation

In June 2021, with the opening of the fourth runway, Incheon Airport secured a total of four runways. However, as repaving and improvement work was sequentially carried out on the existing aging runways, only three runways have been in operation until now.

Incheon Airport began repaving and facility improvement work on the second runway in August 2023 and completed the project in July 2024. Once the second runway resumes full operation at the end of September, Incheon Airport will, for the first time since its opening in 2001, operate four runways simultaneously.

With the simultaneous operation of four runways, Incheon Airport's annual aircraft handling capacity will increase from 500,000 flights per year (90 flights per hour) to 600,000 flights per year (107 flights per hour). In addition, the improvement work on the second runway has increased the number of high-speed exit taxiways, essential for rapid aircraft movement in emergencies, to a total of 12. As a result, runway operational efficiency is expected to improve by approximately 27% compared to previous levels.

Lee Hakjae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated, "With the completion of the repaving of the second runway, we will be able to operate four runways simultaneously for the first time since the airport opened, which will enhance flight safety and further strengthen Incheon Airport's hub competitiveness. Through the comprehensive test operations, we will gather feedback from related agencies and address any operational deficiencies to ensure the successful resumption of operations on the second runway."

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