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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The Incheon International Airport Corporation announced today that a total of 2,141,101 passengers are expected to use Incheon Airport during the 10-day Lunar New Year holiday from January 24 to February 2.
This translates to an average of approximately 214,110 passengers per day, marking a 12.8% increase compared to last year’s Lunar New Year period (190,000 daily passengers) and a 6% rise compared to pre-COVID levels in 2019 (202,000 daily passengers).
The surge in passenger numbers during the holiday is anticipated to cause delays in immigration and security processing at the airport. Complaints from departing passengers have been increasing, with many reporting that even arriving 3–4 hours before early morning flights leaves little time for boarding.
An Incheon Airport official commented, “Between 7 AM and 9 AM, flight departures peak, making it the busiest time of day. Additionally, winter travelers often wear coats, which adds to processing time. Many are also unaware of the updated security rules requiring passengers wearing boots with heels over 3.5 cm to remove their shoes before entering the full-body scanner.”
To address the issue, the official added, “We plan to deploy approximately 110 new security screening staff to alleviate manpower shortages. They are currently in training and will be on duty by early February.”
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
