President Chung Il-young of the Incheon Int’l Airport Corp.(IIAC) delivers his speech at a ceremony for the 17th anniversary of the airport on March 29.

(Photo: IIAC)

Incheon International Airport is getting ready to realize its “2017 Vision” to rank as one of the top three airports in the world, equipped with high-tech ICT to turn itself into a “smart airport.”

Incheon Int’l Airport Corp. which runs the airport, declared the vision at a ceremony celebrating the airport’s 17th anniversary on March 29 that took place at the company’s grand auditorium on Yeongjong Island.

The vision spells out that its first priority is to complete the expansion project being carried out now, which will boost the number of passengers handled annually to 130 million by the target year of the vision from 72 million now so that the airport will rank as one of the top three airports in the world.

The airport also aims to upgrade the passenger service facilities so they’re counted among the top “smart” airports in the world by installing such high-tech equipment as drones to keep birds away, self-driving buses and tunnel-type security checks, in addition to the high-tech facilities already in use including robot cleaners, robot guides, round passenger check-in stands, and digital guides, among others.

Since opening in 2001, the airport saw the number of its passengers increase 7.5 percent in annual average and the sales revenue jumping 10.5 percent annually.

From 2015, the rates jumped drastically to 12.2 percent for the passengers passing through the airport and 11.9 percent for the annual sales revenue so much so that the annual sales revenue came to 2.43 trillion won, and the net profit to 1.116,4 trillion won last year, all records for the company.

The survey showed that the 2nd terminal opened in January got 4.48 in customer satisfaction rating with 5 being the top rating, and higher than 4.26 rating for the No. 1 terminal. Korea's main gateway airport held a grand opening ceremony on Jan. 12 for its second passenger terminal, three weeks ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

President Moon Jae-in and Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee, along with Incheon Airport's honorary spokesmodels, figure skater Kim Yu -na and actor Song Joong -ki, attended the event.

"An airport is a symbol of a nation's power and its level of international exchanges," President Moon said in a speech at the ceremony. President Moon also promised continued support for expanding the airport moving forward.

"Incheon Airport must become a hub not only in East Asia, but for the world," he said.

"The Korean government will proactively support the airport so that it will be able to service 100 million passengers annually by 2023." The new terminal will house four airlines affiliated with the SkyTeam air alliance - Korean Air, Delta, KLM and Air France.

"The opening of the second passenger terminal on Jan. 18 will be another turning point, as Incheon Airport strives to become the best," said Chung Il -young, CEO of Incheon International Airport Corp. Chairman Thomas Bach of the International Olympic Committee, said the Incheon Int’l Airport is very modern and very effective airport. The second terminal has a variety of information and communication technology solutions to allow better flow of traffic, including self-check-in and bag drop kiosks, robots that provide information about facilities and 360-degree body scanners.

Construction of the 4.9 trillion won second passenger terminal at Incheon Airport began in June 2009. Like most other international airports, Free Wi-Fi service is available throughout the airport at all times. 

If you are traveling for business and need a comfortable environment to get work done while waiting, Shinsegae Lounge provides Internet access, fax, and local-call service, in a comfortable and conducive environment. 

If you are just looking for a computer terminal with internet access, you will find an Internet Lounge at both the Passenger Terminal and the Concourse.