At the “29th World Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) World Conference” held in Beijing, China, on the 2nd, Incheon International Airport received the top award in the airport operational efficiency category. ATRS is a global academic organization in the air transport sector that annually conducts a comprehensive evaluation of major airports in terms of productivity and cost efficiency, financial performance, and facility utilization, and presents this award based on the results.

Incheon Airport was selected as the best airport in the Asia-Pacific region in the “major airports handling more than 40 million passengers annually” category, gaining international recognition for its capability to operate as a global hub airport. In particular, it was highly evaluated for continuously enhancing overall airport operational efficiency through passenger service innovation based on digital technologies and expansion of infrastructure befitting a mega hub airport.

It also received high marks for introducing Smart Pass, a facial recognition-based departure service, and overhauling departure procedures to be faster and more convenient by offering various digital services such as self check-in and bag drop. The expansion of Terminal 2 and operation of the fourth runway have also drawn assessments that the airport has grown into a mega hub airport capable of handling more than 100 million passengers per year.

This is not the first time that Incheon Airport, which marks the 25th anniversary of its opening this year, has won awards recognizing its operational performance and convenient passenger services.

In May, it received the Best Global Partner Award for the third consecutive year at the “Envision Global Conference” hosted by Trip.com, one of the world’s three largest online travel platforms. Incheon Airport was the only airport in the world to receive the award, which is based on a comprehensive assessment of achievements in attracting travelers, brand influence, and service innovation.

Earlier, in March, it won the Best Family-Friendly Airport Award at the “2026 World Airport Awards” hosted by Skytrax, a UK-based consulting firm specializing in air transport services. The awards select the best airports in each category every year through online surveys of travelers worldwide. Incheon Airport ranked first, receiving high evaluations for installing and operating customized convenience facilities and security checkpoints for family travelers.

It is also posting strong results in evaluations by the government and public institutions. The Industrial Policy Studies Institute presented Incheon Airport with the top prize in the “Smart Airport Service” category at the National Service Awards ceremony held last month, recognizing the excellence of the “Passenger Notification System” service operated by Incheon International Airport Corporation since 2004. This smart service informs passengers in advance of airport congestion levels by time slot, based on airline ticket reservation information.

In April, Incheon International Airport Corporation received the top award in the information security category at the “National Industry Awards” for the eighth consecutive year. It was recognized for strengthening its personal data protection framework and enhancing its cyber security response capabilities through practical crisis response drills. In the same month, it obtained the highest grade, S, for the second consecutive year in the “Public Institution Personal Information Protection Level Assessment” conducted by the Personal Information Protection Commission on 1,442 public institutions, including central and local governments and state-owned enterprises.

Kim Beom-ho, Acting President and CEO of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, “Incheon Airport’s efforts to improve its services have been recognized both at home and abroad,” adding, “Going forward, the airport will actively introduce cutting-edge smart technologies to provide even safer and more convenient airport services.”

Popular News