The government aims to make Incheon International Airport one of the five busiest airports in the world in terms of international passenger traffic and one of the world’s top ten transfer airports by 2020.
 
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Incheon International Airport Corporation on Monday unveiled plans to boost services by expanding the airport’s infrastructure to meet its goals.
 
Since opening in 2001, Incheon International Airport has grown to be the world’s number two airport in terms of managing international cargo and the world’s number eight airport in handling the traffic of international passengers.
 
However, the airport’s weaknesses have recently surfaced, including long lines before departure and upon arrival, as demand for air travel surged. Delays in handling luggage have also been regarded as a downside.
 
With competitors in neighboring countries, the number of passengers transferring through Incheon International Airport slipped nearly six percent in 2014 after having posted annual growth of nearly eleven percent up until 2013.
 
The ministry and the airport corporation will seek to steadily liberalize air transport with China and expand direct flights to and from India in an effort to meet air travel demands from China and India.  
 
They also plan to expand the number of airlines flying into and out of Incheon International Airport from the current 186 to 210 by 2020.