Layovers need not be boring — Incheon Airport signs 'Friendly Cooperation' pact to boost Taiwanese demand

▲ Incheon International Airport Corporation President Chung Il-young and Lion Travel Deputy General Manager Lin Ming-hua sign the 'Memorandum of Understanding on Expanding Demand from Taiwanese Travelers' today.

Reported and photographed by Yang Xiao-rou / Taipei

With the number of travelers between Taiwan and South Korea rising year by year, Incheon International Airport in South Korea has signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Expanding Demand from Taiwanese Travelers' with Taiwan’s Lion Travel Agency today (8th) morning. The aim is to provide passengers with more flexible and diverse usage experiences and transit services, as well as to enhance core market passenger volume and diversify transportation routes. The partnership hopes to offer Taiwanese visitors to Korea a more convenient travel experience through collaboration with a local travel agency.

Chung Il-young, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, stated that since the signing of the 'Korea–Taiwan Aviation Agreement' in 2015, last year alone saw four airlines begin operating the 'Incheon–Taipei' route, with passenger numbers increasing by 47%. To further boost the number of travelers and transit passengers between the two regions, Incheon Airport will focus its efforts on developing customized services for the Taiwan market and collaborate with travel agencies. Currently, it is working on planning transit packages departing from Taiwan and one-day tour itineraries at Incheon Airport.

Since its initial opening in early 2001, Incheon Airport has not only resolved the operational time and space limitations of Gimpo Airport, but also significantly increased the number of incoming and outgoing passengers and cargo throughput. It now handles over 1,000 takeoffs and landings per day, with an average annual passenger traffic exceeding 57 million. Additionally, starting in 2005, Incheon Airport has ranked No. 1 in the 'World’s Best Airport' survey conducted by the Airports Council International in Geneva for 12 consecutive years, earning international recognition for its service quality.

To enhance the convenience of travel to Korea and transit, Incheon Airport is actively constructing a second terminal, scheduled to open early next year. Once operational, it is expected to increase annual passenger handling capacity to 72 million. Moreover, Incheon Airport is planning to build a comprehensive airport city network, where the area surrounding the airport can cater to all traveler needs — dining, entertainment, and more. This will ensure a more convenient travel experience for both visiting tourists and transit passengers.

Lin Ming-hua, deputy general manager of Lion Travel, pointed out that this MOU with Incheon International Airport Corporation will leverage the airport’s surrounding and internal hardware and software facilities, as well as its flight routes, and combine them with Korea’s unique pop culture to co-develop new packaged itineraries with local travel partners. This will offer travelers more entertainment options while visiting Korea or transiting through the airport.