Incheon (airport)

Incheon International Airport is located west of the city of Incheon , on the west coast of the island of Yongjondo-Yonyudo ( box 영종도 - 용유도 ), formed from four formerly separate islands of Yongjondo, Yongyudo, Sammokto ( box 삼목 도 ), Sinbulto ( box 신불 도 도 ) and several smaller islands, the sea area between which was filled up during the construction of the airport.

Yongjong Yongyu Island is connected to the mainland via the large Yongjong Bridge, which is part of Expressway 130 ( Expressway 130 ) between the city and the airport. The motorway connects Gimpo International Airport, providing fast transit between airports of domestic passengers on international flights and vice versa. Incheon Airport is connected to the city via a ferry service, however, the main passenger traffic is provided through private bus services from all parts of South Korea and a taxi service, which is available around the clock on the main highway with Incheon and on several reserve highways connecting the airport with the capital of the country, Seoul.

On March 23, 2007, the Incheon International Airport Railway (APEX) was opened, connecting the airport with Gimpo International Airport ^[5] .

The airport took first place in the nomination “Best Service in its Class” according to the annual assessment of the International Council of Airports and the International Air Transport Association , and received second place in the nomination “Best Airport in the World”, ahead of Singapore Changi International Airport , but skipping ahead of itself International Airport Hong Kong According to the International Airport Council, Incheon is recognized as the best civilian airport in the world ^[6] .

The building of the passenger terminal of Incheon International Airport contains 74 gates (gates), of which 44 are in the main part of the terminal and the remaining 30 are in Concourse A.

After the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul , the volume of international air travel in South Korea began to grow, increasing rapidly from year to year, while the peak of growth fell on the 90s of the 20th century. Due to the sharp increase in air traffic, it became apparent that the current Gimpo International Airport is no longer able to cope with the increased traffic, so the South Korean government and the Seoul authorities decided to build a new modern airport complex.

The construction of Incheon International Airport began in November 1992 on the reclaimed land between the islands of Yongjondo and Yongyudo. In total, the construction of the airport took eight years and another six months were required to conduct the entire complex of inspections and testing of the infrastructure. Officially, Incheon International Airport was opened for commercial operations in March 2001.

In the early days of the airport complex, a lot of problems were discovered, most of which were related to the baggage handling system . In the first month of operation and refinement, the luggage system worked in a semi-automatic mode and passengers had to wait a long time for their luggage. Despite all the difficulties, most of the problems were debugged within a month and the airport's work went into normal mode.

After the events of September 11, 2001, work was carried out at Incheon International Airport to significantly increase the level of security, as well as the special equipment of the medical inspection was updated in connection with various epidemics that arise in the countries of the Asian region .

Thanks to the positive feedback on the operation of the airport complex and the transfer of a significant part of the regular flights of the flagship Asiana Airlines and Korean Air to Incheon International Airport, the port traffic has undergone significant growth, as a result of which it became clear that the airport will reach the limit of using its operating capacities by 2006 . As a result of this, in February 2002, work began on the implementation of the second phase of the airport construction. Initially, the second phase was supposed to be completed by the end of December 2008, however, due to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the pace of work was accelerated and the second phase of the airport master plan was completed at the end of July 2008.

On November 15, 2006, the world's largest passenger airliner, Airbus A380 , landed at Incheon International Airport. While the aircraft was at the airport, all sections of the infrastructure were checked for readiness for servicing airliners of the A380 type. The plane was parked to one of the gates, specially designed to handle the passenger flow of double-decker liners. The test results of all airport units were found to be satisfactory and the port was certified for receiving Airbus A380 aircraft from December 1, 2006.

As part of further modernization of the airport complex, on January 10, 2008, the leadership of Incheon International Airport and Hanjin Corporation, the head holding company of the national air carrier Korean Air , signed a joint agreement on the construction of a nine-story hospital near the airport, designed to provide a wide range of medical services to residents of neighboring areas and foreign to citizens. After completion of construction in 2011, the hospital will serve up to 30 thousand people ^[7] .

Airport construction schedule

• February 1992: the master plan for the construction of the airport was approved;
• November 1992: beginning of the first phase of construction, preparing the territory for the airport;
• July 1994: the northern and southern embankments were completed;
• March 1996: the port was officially named Incheon International Airport;
• May 1996: start of construction of the passenger terminal building;
• December 1996: start of construction of the first runway ;
• June 30, 2000: completion of the main components of the airport infrastructure;
• July 2000: launch of a testing program for key infrastructure components;
• November 2000: announced the date of opening of the airport;
• March 29, 2001: official opening of Incheon International Airport;
• February 2002: beginning of the second phase of construction;
• November 2002: commissioning of new aircraft parking lots (stage 2);
• October 2003: start of construction of a new cargo terminal (stage 2);
• November 2003: the beginning of the construction of an automatic passenger movement system inside the terminal (stage 2);
• December 2003: start of construction of the third runway (stage 2);
• June 2004: start of the construction of a passenger concourse (stage 2);
• April 2005: commissioning of the passenger concourse building (stage 2);
• March 2007: opening of a railway line from the forecourt;
• June 2008: Formal completion of the second phase of the airport.

The initial plan for the construction of Incheon International Airport consisted of three main stages, however, due to the sharp increase in passenger and cargo traffic, the fourth stage was added, which included a significant expansion of the airport's operating capacity.

Stage 1

The first stage of the master plan was to prepare the airport, the construction of the buildings of the main passenger terminal and several cargo terminals. The total capacity of the airport was 30 million people and 1.7 million metric tons of cargo annually. The passenger terminal building area was 496,000 square meters, two parallel runways , a control tower, administrative buildings, a transport center were put into operation (the British company Terry Farrell and Partners completed the architectural design), an integrated operations center, and three cargo buildings terminals, an international business center and office building management.

Stage 2

Work on the implementation of the second stage of the master plan began in 2002 and was supposed to be completed in December 2008, however, due to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing , the dates were revised and the second stage was completed almost half a year earlier - on June 20, 2008. As a result of the implementation of the second stage of the master plan, a third parallel runway with a length of 4000 meters was built, 13 hectares of cargo terminal area were commissioned and two automatic passenger transportation systems Mitsubishi Crystal Mover were put into operation, connecting each passenger concourse with two branches of 870 meters to the main building airport passenger terminal ^[8] .

With the completion of the implementation of the second stage of the general plan, the airport’s operating capacity increased to 410,000 annually serviced flights, 44 million passengers and 4.5 million metric tons of cargo. The service of flights of all foreign airlines was transferred to a new and less convenient passenger correspondent, while the main terminal building remained under the control of the flagship carriers Asiana Airlines and Korean Air . In addition, a runway detection and warning system (ASDE-X) with multi-channel tracking radar (MRI, Multi Radar Tracking), an automatic dependent surveillance system in broadcasting mode (ADS-B) coupled with the system were put into operation at the airport RIMCAS (runway monitoring and emergency alert functions). The installation of four additional antennas of the ASDE-X system made it possible to reduce the blind spot arising in the conditions of heavy rains, and also made the necessary reserve for the construction of the third runway.

Stage 3

About 4 trillion South Korean won (approximately 3.5 billion US dollars in December 2009 prices) are planned to be invested in the implementation of the third stage of the airport master plan. The South Korean government plans to spend these investments on the construction of a second passenger terminal in the northern part of the airport, on the expansion of the existing cargo terminal, as well as on the creation of a number of other infrastructure facilities of the airport complex. All terminals will be connected by the Starline underground railway system, which currently operates between the main terminal and the passenger concourse. Upon completion of the complex of works of the third stage, Incheon International Airport will be able to serve up to 62 million passengers a year and about 5.8 million metric tons of cargo annually. The implementation of the phase will begin in 2011 with a planned completion date in mid-2015. The third stage of the master plan includes the introduction of new aircraft parking lots, telescopic ramps, as well as the launch of a railway line to the capital of the country with a length of 70 kilometers ^[9] .

Stage 4

The fourth and final stage of construction of Incheon International Airport is scheduled to be completed by 2020. At the end of the fourth stage, the airport will use two main passenger terminal buildings, 4 passenger concourses , 128 gates (gates) and 4 runways . The airport’s operating capacity will be increased to 100 million passengers and 7 million metric tons of cargo annually with the possibility of an additional increase in these indicators. By 2020, Incheon International Airport may be included in the list of ten busiest civilian airports in the world.

Main terminal

The building of the main passenger terminal of Incheon International Airport occupies an area of ​​496 thousand square meters, being the largest terminal among the country's airports and occupying the eighth place among all airports in the world after Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport , Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital International Airport , Terminal 1 of Hong Kong International Airport , passenger terminal of Suvannapum International Airport , Terminal 1 of Mexico City International Airport , Terminal 1 of Barcelona International Airport and Termi Nala 1 Dubai International Airport. The main terminal building is 1,060 meters long, 149 meters wide and 33 meters high. The total construction cost of the terminal was 1.3816 trillion won .

Главный терминал содержит 44 выходов на посадку (все гейты могут обслуживать двухэтажный аэробус A380 ), 50 стоек индивидуальных проверок безопасности, две зоны биологического контроля и карантина, 6 стационарных и 14 мобильных карантинных счётчиков, 120 стоек паспортного контроля и 8 зон безопасности для проверки прибывающих пассажиров, 28 зон безопасности для проверки пассажиров перед отправлением, 252 стойки регистрации и 120 стоек паспортного контроля убывающих пассажиров. По завершении второго этапа генерального плана аэропорта главный терминал соединён с залом отправления пассажиров (конкорсом) посредством двух параллельных подземных переходов длиной 870 метров, которые оснащены системой автоматического транзита пассажиров.

Конкорс

Пассажирский конкорс A был введён в эксплуатацию в мае 2008 года и предназначен для обслуживания рейсов всех зарубежных авиакомпаний (фактически — с 10 июня 2008 года).

Терминал 2

18 января 2018 года состоялось открытие 2 терминала аэропорта Инчхон. Он обслуживает 4 авиакомпании из альянса SkyTeam : Korean Air , Delta Air Lines , KLM Royal Dutch Airlines , Air France . С 28 октября 2018 года, обслуживает 7 авиакомпании из альянса SkyTeam : Аэрофлот , Aeromexico , Alitalia , China Airlines , Czech Airlines , Garuda Indonesia , Xiamen Airlines

В настоящее время в Международном аэропорту Инчхон работают более 70 авиакомпаний. Крупнейшим оператором аэропорта является национальный авиаперевозчик Korean Air , второе место по объёмам операций занимает флагманская авиакомпания Южной Кореи Asiana Airlines . Несмотря на то, что иностранные авиакомпании обслуживаются в отдельном конкорсе, пассажиры этих рейсов проходят регистрацию и иммиграционные процедуры в здании главного пассажирского терминала.

Грузовой комплекс Международного аэропорта Инчхон состоит из трёх грузовых терминалов, пяти отдельных складских территорий, 24 самолётных парковок и офисного здания. Каждая грузовая авиакомпания, работающая в аэропорту, закреплена за конкретным грузовым терминалом, предоставляющим конкретному перевозчику определённый набор зачастую эксклюзивных услуг. Сами терминалы разделены на три зоны: зону импортных грузов, экспортных грузов и зону транзитных грузов. Разделение по перевозчикам и направлениям перемещения грузов позволяет добиться высокоэффективной работы всего грузового комплекса аэропорта. Терминалы оборудованы современной компьютерной системой, с помощью которой каждое грузоместо отслеживается в логистической цепочке в режиме реального времени.

Грузовой комплекс аэропорта первоначально был рассчитан на обработку 1,7 млн тонн грузов ежегодно. Однако, вследствие существенного увеличения объёмов транзитных грузов и числа авиакомпаний, работающих в аэропорту и использующих грузовые терминалы A и B, было принято решение о расширении площади данных терминалов, в результате чего операционная мощность аэропорта возросла до 2,7 млн тонн грузов в год. Территория Терминала C не была включена в строительные работы по увеличению операционных площадей из-за отсутствия прямого доступа к контролируемой зоне. После завершения второго этапа генерального плана строительства порта Международный аэропорт Инчхон стал способен обрабатывать до 4,9 млн тонн грузов ежегодно. Такое существенное увеличение пропускной способности стало возможным, главным образом, как результат строительства отдельных грузовых зон корейских авиакомпаний Korean Air Cargo и Asiana Cargo , непосредственно примыкающих к зданиям главных грузовых терминалов аэропорта.

Грузовой комплекс Международного аэропорта Инчхон функционирует 24 часа в сутки семь дней в неделю, то есть в полном режиме «нон-стоп».

Терминал A

Терминал A обслуживает дочернее подразделение Korean Air Cargo национального авиаперевозчика страны Korean Air и является крупнейшим грузовым терминалом Международного аэропорта Инчхон по размеру и пропускной способности. Терминал имеет всю необходимую инфраструктуру для обслуживания и сопровождения неформатных и нестандартных грузов, требующих выдерживания специального температурного режима или, например, для обеспечения транспортировки животных. Здание терминала был существенно расширен в начале 2005 года и в настоящее время, размещаясь на территории в 60 тысяч квадратных метров, позволяет обрабатывать до 1,35 млн тонн различных грузов в год.

Терминал B

Терминал B обслуживает грузовое подразделение Asiana Cargo национального авиаперевозчика Южной Кореи Asiana Airlines . Инфраструктура Терминала размещается на территории площадью 40 тысяч квадратных метров и предназначена для обработки около 750 тысяч тонн различных грузов ежегодно. Мощности грузового Терминала B планировалось довести до 800 тысяч тонн в год, однако вследствие прошедшей в 2005 году забастовки пилотов авиакомпании спрос на грузовые перевозки данной компанией существенно снизился и в настоящее время планы по расширению грузового терминала заморожены.

Терминал C

Терминал C предназначен для обслуживания иностранных авиаперевозчиков, работающих в Международном аэропорту Инчхон, его крупнейшими операторами являются авиакомпании FedEx , UPS и DHL . В силу своего месторасположения Терминал C не может быть расширен территориально, в противном случае возникнет задача реорганизации работ по генеральному плану строительства аэропорта. Для решения данной коллизии управляющая компания «Международная корпорация аэропорта Инчхон» (IIAC) ведёт работы по возведению отдельного грузового терминала, в который должны будут перенести обслуживание перевозчиков FedEx и UPS, в то время, как остальные авиакомпании планируется оставить в грузовом Терминале C.

Терминал C имеет следующие размеры: 420 метров в длину, 120 метров и 19,65 метров в высоту. Первый этаж (главный склад) Терминала занимает площадь в 54 203,32 квадратных метров, остальные этажи — по 12 708,88 метров. В настоящее время общая пропускная способность Терминала C составляет около 600 тысяч метрических тонн в год, число иностранных операторов Терминала составляет 51 авиакомпанию на декабрь 2009 года.

Cargo Airlines and Destinations

Control tower

Located in the center of the airport, the control tower is 100.4 meters high and is lit 24 hours a day. On the upper floor of the tower there is a parabolic antenna, which is used in the work of the system for detecting and warning about unauthorized runway exit (ASDE-X), controlling a zone with a radius of five kilometers from the control center. The upper floors of the tower are occupied by specialists providing the work of traffic controllers and ground services, the lower floors are occupied by the rest of the control divisions and support services.

The control tower of Incheon International Airport covers an area of ​​179 square meters and as of 2001 was the third largest control tower in the world.

Runways

At Incheon International Airport, there are three asphalt -parallel runways parallel to each other: 15R / 33L, 15L / 33R and 16/34.

Lanes 15R / 33L and 15L / 33R are 3,750 meters long, 60 meters wide, the coating thickness of both strips is 1.05 meters, the length of the third 16/34 band is 4,000 meters. The 15R / 33L runway is mainly used for take-off aircraft, while the 15L / 33R is used for arriving airliners. Such a distribution of functionality is clearly visible in a visual way: on the 15L / 33R strip there are significantly more traces from the aircraft chassis, since the vast majority of aircraft landings are made on this runway. The third strip 16L / 34R with a length of 4000 meters was put into operation in June 2008. Almost all passenger flights are served on the new 16L / 34R and 15R / 33L lanes, while the 15L / 33R is for the most part intended for cargo flights due to its proximity to the territory of the airport cargo terminal complex. Despite the fact that the runways are designated 33 and 34, the markings for these runways are the same.

Upon completion of the fourth stage of the implementation of the construction master plan, Incheon International Airport will operate 4 parallel runways, one pair of which will be 3,750 meters long, the other two strips 4,000 meters each. All runways on both sides are equipped with a Category IIIb (ILS CAT IIIb) radionavigation approach system , which allows aircraft to land in conditions of visibility of 50 meters.

The control of the airport runway lighting system is reduced to the computer system of the control tower. The taxi dispatcher has the ability to manipulate the lights of the lighting strips in order to direct the aircraft to the designated parking area or to a specific airport telescope.

Since its official opening, Incheon International Airport has won many international awards, the most important of which are listed below.

• 1998 - the airport received ISO certification in terms of the built infrastructure of the airport;
• 2002 - second place in the ranking of “The Best Airport in the World” by the International Council of Airports (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA);
• 2002 - the airport management company was the first in the world to receive full certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO);
• 2005 - the first place in the ranking of "The Best Airport in the World" from international organizations IATA and ACI;
• 2006 - the first prize in the ranking of the effectiveness of airports in the Asia-Pacific region. Incheon International Airport achieved a performance indicator that was 57% above the average for the entire region;
• 2006 - the first place in the IATA rating “The Best Airport in the World in Passenger Rating”;
• 2006 - “The best airport in the world in terms of service” ^[12] ;
• full certification of the International Organization for Standardization in terms of environmental safety;
• “Best Airport Service in its Class” - the award of the First International Conference on the level of service and maintenance, held jointly by IATA and ACI;
• second place in the ranking of “The Best Airport in the World” (after Hong Kong International Airport and in front of Singapore Changi International Airport );
• January 2007 - the first prize "The best airport in the world" from the American travel magazine "Global Traveler" ^[13] ;
• January 2008 - the first prize "The best airport in the world" from the American travel magazine "Global Traveler" ^[7] ;
• 2009 - the first place in the rating of the British research company Skytrax in the nomination "The best airport in the world";
• December 2009 - the first place in the ranking of the Global Traveler magazine in the nomination “The best airport in the world” ^[14] .

To date, there have not been any serious incidents or casualties recorded at Incheon International Airport.

Airport Incidents

• On September 11, 2001, Korean Air flight 85 flying to John F. Kennedy International Airport , for technical reasons, stopped responding to requests from ground control services, suggesting a high probability of terrorist hijacking.
• On December 17, 2005, a Boeing 777 aircraft from Air France , flying from Incheon International Airport to Charles de Gaulle International Airport ( Paris ), made an emergency landing at the Irkutsk International Airport due to the stop of one of the engines

• List of the world's busiest airports for international passengers
• List of the world's busiest freight airports