Incheon: Republic of Korea’s Incheon International Airport reached a significant milestone last year by ranking third in international passenger traffic, marking its highest position since opening in 2001, according to the airport’s operator.
According to Lao News Agency, the main airport of Korea, situated approximately 45 kilometers west of Seoul, achieved this ranking after previously being seventh in 2023 and fifth in both 2018 and 2019, as reported by the Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) in a press release. In 2024, Incheon Airport serviced a total of 70.67 million international passengers, reflecting a 26.7 percent increase from the previous year, based on data from Airports Council International (ACI).
The IIAC highlighted a significant rise in outbound travelers during peak periods such as the summer, Thanksgiving, and year-end holidays. The passenger traffic also increased on short-haul routes to Japan and other Asian destinations, attributed to fluctuations in the yen and dollar exchange rates.
Dubai International Airport and London Heathrow Airport took first and second places, respectively, with 92.33 million and 79.19 million international passengers, as per ACI data.
The IIAC anticipates that international passenger traffic at Incheon Airport will range between 73 million and 77 million this year, supported by a record number of 98 air carriers now operating flights to the airport hub.
In terms of international cargo volume, Incheon Airport also maintained its third-place ranking last year. The international air cargo traffic at the airport increased by 7.4 percent on-year to 2.9 million tons, following Hong Kong’s international airport at 4.9 million tons and Shanghai at 3 million tons, as noted in the release.