Incheon airport marks 500 million passengers

[THE INVESTOR] Incheon International Airport served its 500 millionth passenger on July 31, setting a new record for the largest number of daily passengers.

According to Incheon International Airport Corp., the 500 millionth passenger, Kim Yong-geun, arrived at Incheon from Bangkok on Asiana Airlines flight OZ7423 at 10 a.m. He was greeted by a water salute from fire trucks and presented with a golden key by Incheon International Airport CEO Chung Il-young at a special ceremony.

Incheon International Airport Corp. CEO Chung Il-young (fourth from left) and Kim Yong-geun (fifth from left), the airport’s 500 millionth flight passenger, attend a celebration at the airport Sunday. Yonhap

Chung said in a statement that the airport was able to reach the “new milestone” of 500 million passengers through its “continued growth as a safe and convenient airport.” He vowed to continue working toward becoming one of “the world’s top five airports by 2020.”

The airport opened in 2001 and hit the 400 millionth passenger mark in August 2014. Incheon International Airport is one of eight airports in the world that has served more than 500 million passengers.

Meanwhile, the airport is expected to reach over 201,000 passengers Sunday, surpassing the record 193,400 passengers served Saturday.

By Won Ho-jung/The Korea Herald (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)