"The scheduled departure time for the international flight from Incheon Airport was 7:35 a.m. There's a lot of talk about how departure procedures are taking a long time these days, so I arrived at Incheon Airport at 4:45 a.m. It cost tens of thousands of won just for the taxi fare. Even then, I spent 40 minutes waiting in line to enter the departure hall. It took another 30 minutes for security checks and passport verification inside the departure hall. It was so slow that I thought I would miss the flight. As for duty-free shopping? I didn't even get to browse."
This is the experience of Baek, 30, who recently traveled to Japan via Incheon Airport. Baek noted, "When I took the return flight from Narita Airport in Japan, I was able to reach the boarding gate within an hour of arriving at the airport," adding, "Once known as the world's best airport, Incheon Airport no longer seems to hold that title."
◇incheon airport promotes "30 minutes for procedures," but passengers say they almost missed the flight
Baek said Baek arrived at Incheon Airport at 4:45 a.m. on the 17th of last month and queued in front of the airline's desk. It took 40 minutes just to receive a boarding pass and check in a bag. Baek said, "This was just the beginning."
Baek then went to the departure hall, where it took another 40 minutes in line. This was because many people were waiting outside due to delays inside the departure hall. Even after entering, Baek said it took an additional 30 minutes for security checks and passport verification.
Baek said, "When I checked the time, I thought it was 'too late,' feeling panicked as I rushed to the boarding gate, which took another 15 minutes."
"The airline asked everyone to be at the gate by 7:05 a.m., but when I arrived, it was 6:50 a.m. It took 2 hours and 5 minutes from the moment I arrived at Incheon Airport at 4:45 a.m. to reach the boarding gate. If it takes me, a young person moving quickly alone, this long, imagine how elderly people or families with children might miss their flights."
Last year, Incheon Airport promoted that 95% of passengers could complete the process from check-in desk to completion of security checks and passport verification in the departure hall in 30 minutes and 41 seconds. This is half the time recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for departure procedures (60 minutes).
However, Incheon Airport is particularly criticized for the time it takes to board morning flights. Kim, 46, traveled to Kagoshima, Japan, with his wife at the end of November last year through Incheon Airport. Their flight was scheduled to depart at 8:45 a.m. They arrived at the airport at 6 a.m. but managed to board the plane just 5 minutes before the gate closed.
Kim noted, "It took 60 minutes just to get inside the departure hall after receiving the boarding pass and checking in a bag," adding, "The statistics that say one can complete departure procedures in 30 minutes at Incheon Airport seem misleading." Regarding the departure situation at the time, Kim said, "I'm embarrassed to say that, for the first time in my life, I even cut the line. I felt I wouldn't make it on time without doing so. It seemed everyone was in a similar situation, as there were shouts of protest all over the airport."
◇after new equipment, wait times have increased
At around 4 p.m. on the 3rd, there was a waiting line about 70 meters long at the entrance to the departure hall of Terminal 2 at Incheon Airport. Over 70 passengers were waiting to enter the departure hall. There were also many passengers waiting inside the hall. An airport official said, "Inside the departure hall, we frequently adjust the waiting line form based on the situation, so it's challenging to pinpoint the exact number of waiting passengers," adding, "There might be over 100."
The Incheon Airport authority explained that delays in departure procedures are primarily due to the lengthy security screenings. There are also concerns that wait times have increased since the completion of the phase four expansion on the 3rd of last month and the opening of Terminal 2. Although faster and more precise than conventional X-ray inspections, the new CT X-ray screenings are causing unexpected delays.
A representative from Incheon International Airport Corporation stated, "There is no issue with the security screening systems or equipment, but the personnel operating the new equipment haven't fully adapted yet, causing slow procedures," adding that this coincided with the peak travel period of school holidays and the end-of-year and New Year's season.
There is also an issue of staffing shortages. Incheon Airport argued that without adequate staffing for customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) officers, departure procedures have slowed. Only 20% of the requested personnel have been approved for increase.
However, an executive from a corporation who frequently travels abroad via Incheon Airport said, "In the morning hours, it takes a long time due to insufficient staff for departure procedures, but it doesn't seem to be the case in the afternoon," adding, "Rather than blaming staff shortages, if Incheon Airport manages personnel flexibly by time slots, it could reduce the time required for departures."
He stated, "Even among 'Smart Pass' users, who can complete departure procedures via facial recognition without a passport or boarding pass, many complain that it's taking too long to depart," adding, "At this point, Incheon Airport must acknowledge it has a serious problem."