Sea and air cargo handled at Incheon Airport in 2024 jumped to 118,000 tons, the Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) said on Feb. 5 after an analysis.
The figure is a 20 percent surge over the 98,000 tons in 2023. The rise is attributed to the continuous growth of the global E-commerce industry. The figure represents the best-ever cargo volume since the opening of Incheon Airport.
The sea and air cargo system mainly relies on sales of E-commerce products, which are primarily produced in China and transported by sea to Incheon Airport before being transferred to the world via flight at the airport.
The logistics system has grown fast on the back of Incheon Airport’s geographic proximity to China and connectivity with a hub network linking 192 cities around the world.
Long-term haul country destinations, such as North America and Europe, continue to have a higher portion. North America and Europe accounted for 42 percent and 28 percent, respectively.
But emerging country regions, such as Central and South America as well as the Middle East, accounted for a 30 percent portion by achieving a 67 percent year-on-year jump.
This rose from 35 in 2023 to 47 in 2024 the number of the capitals of final destination countries, diversifying the E-commerce trade market fast.
Incheon Port ranked first with a 37 percent portion among the cargoes arriving in Korea, followed by Pyeongtaek Port with a 35 percent share and Gunsan Port with a 28 percent portion.
In 2023, Gunsan Port came first, but Incheon Port took the No. 1 position in two years on the back of greater access to China, such as the Korea-China car ferry route and Incheon Airport’s proximity.
In order to invigorate the see & air system last year, IIAC looked into the whole process of transporting cargoes from China and Incheon Airport, explore improvement matters and explored them with port authorities and logistics companies.
As for outlooks of the sea & air network, IIAC predicts a short-term fluctuation in the wake of the stiffening of regulations on E-commerce trade originating from China, imposed by the U.S. new administration but it is forecast to achieve a steady growth this year on the back of the rising supply of cargo planes on core air routes, such as North America and Europe as well as strong points such as a through cargo inspection system at Korean port, logistics complex and airport on three occasions.
In a related development, IIAC is to host Incheon Airport’s air cargo outlook seminar on Feb. 14 and present on the analysis of the 2024 air cargo performance and 2025 air cargo outlooks.
IIAC President Lee Hak-jae said, “Uncertainties surrounding the air cargo market are getter rising, but if Incheon Airport utilizes its own geographical capabilities, it will lead to the use of greater growth opportunities and we will evolve Incheon Airport’s cargo as a core growth axis by strategically attracting global E-commerce cargoes growing fast.”
IIAC President Calls for Innovation and Digital Transformation Based on Safety
Incheon International Airport Corp. pledged to ensure innovation base on its safety operation.
IIAC held the 2025 Incheon Airport New Year’s Gathering at Incheon Airport’s Passenger Terminal 2 on Jan. 21.
Among some 200 people on hand at the event were IIAC President Lee Hak-jae, Kwon Hyuck-jin, head of Seoul Regional Office of Aviation, chief of organizations stationed at the airport and heads of construction companies participating in the Phase IV Project.
In his speech, IIAC President Lee said, “The year 2024 was one year in which the Phase 4 construction project was completed and Incheon Airport made a remarked performance by posting the best-ever international passenger since its opening, and in 2015, we will accelerate innovation and digital transformation in all sectors of operating the airport to secure future competitiveness based on safety.”
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