Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the main gateway to South Korea, the land of mega-cities and mountains. Located 69km (43 miles) west of the capital, Seoul, Incheon Airport is built on reclaimed land between some of the smaller islets along South Korea’s west coast.
The designers of Incheon International Airport made sure that the airport would have ample space, allowing for a wealth of shopping opportunities as well as numerous other activities. Passengers arriving on flights to Incheon International Airport can shop until they drop or they can take in some Korean culture at the airport’s on-site Museum of Korean Culture. There’s also a spa, golf course and casino.
Opened in 2001, the airport is fast making its mark on travel within the region. It is a hub for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines and flights to Incheon International Airport can be booked on a number of carriers from cities such as Moscow, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok and Dubai to Amsterdam and San Francisco.
It is easy to see why Seoul’s Incheon International Airport is an award-winning one. The facilities and shopping opportunities alone are enough to keep even the most active passenger busy. The airport is easy to navigate and it is well-connected with Seoul as well as most other South Korean cities.
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The airport is made up of the main passenger terminal, which has four floors, and the concourse. So there are no terminal transfers. However, there is a free inter-airport shuttle bus. It travels between departures, arrivals, long-term parking lots and the Hyatt Airport hotel.
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Train: The A-REX train (Airport Railroad Express) runs at regular intervals (8-15 minutes) between 5:20am and 11:21pm throughout the week and on national holidays. An express train ticket between Incheon International Airport and Seoul Station costs KRW 13,300 (about £8).
Taxis: Taxis are available from the taxi rank outside the arrivals floor of the terminal at exits four to eight. There are three kinds of taxis available from Incheon Airport: standard, deluxe and jumbo. Standard and deluxe take up to four people but a deluxe taxi will cost 50 per cent more. Jumbo taxis take up to eight passengers and also costs extra. A standard taxi into downtown Seoul will set you back KRW 60,000- 100,000 (approximately £34-£57) and the travel time ranges from an hour to 75 minutes. Passengers are expected to pay the KRW 7,100 (£4) toll on the expressway as it is not included in the taxi fare. All taxis are metered and fares increase between midnight and 5am.
Bus: Incheon International Airport is well connected to Seoul and the rest of the country by a great bus network. Passengers arriving at the airport can buy bus tickets from the booths just before exits four and nine or just outside exits four, six, seven, eight, 11, 13 and 9C on the first floor of the main terminal building outside the arrivals area. There are two types of buses with services to and from Incheon International Airport: deluxe limousine buses, which go straight to major hotels in Seoul and to Seoul Station, and the standard limousine buses, which make a number of stops throughout the city. Buses tend to leave the airport at least every ten minutes during peak times, but less frequently at night and early in the morning. Bus fares for most areas in downtown Seoul on the deluxe limousine buses is KRW 13,000 (about £8) while standard buses cost KRW 7,500- 8,000 (about £4).
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Short- and long-term parking are available at Incheon International Airport. The car parks are alongside the main terminal building and within easy walking distance. Short-term parking is on the first and third floors and is connected to the terminal via passageways. Parking rates start at KRW 1,200 (£0.70) for the first 30 minutes and KRW 600 (£0.30) per 15 minutes thereafter up to a daily maximum of KRW 12,000 (£7). The long-term car park is divided into outdoor sections for cars, buses and taxis. The long-term parking area is connected to the main terminal building via a shuttle that runs every 8-16 minutes. Long-term parking rates start at KRW 1,000 per hour (about £0.50) and go up to KRW 8,000 (about £4) per day up to six days, thereafter the parking fee is reduced by 50 per cent.
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Money and communications: ATMs, currency exchange facilities, a post office and public telephones are all available at Incheon Airport. It is also possible to rent a cell telephone at the airport as South Korean cell phones operate on a CDMA network rather than a GSM network.
Luggage: Left-luggage facilities are available at the Korean Express Parcel Service located in departures on the third floor near check-in counter M and in arrivals on the first floor opposite arrival hall F. The one in departures is open from 6am to 10pm and the one in arrivals is open from 7am to 9pm. Prices range from KRW 3,000-7,000 (£1.70 to £4) for six hours.
Conference and business: Incheon International Airport has a number of airline lounges with business facilities, which include fax, telephone and photocopying services as well as workstations. The IT Experience Centre has similar facilities and is located in the duty-free area near gate 14. The Hub Lounge on the fourth floor after passport control has a full range of business facilities and is open to members of the public for a KRW 35,000 (approximately £20) fee. Conference rooms are available on the second floor of the passenger terminal and are fully equipped with audio-visual equipment and catering services.
Other facilities: Airport facilities range from medical services and pharmacies, to optometrists, hair and beauty salons, a laundromat, car wash, mobile phone rental services, computers, a sauna and spa, a children’s play room, casino, showers, smoking rooms, the Museum of Korean Culture, and a fitness centre complete with a golf driving range.
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available is available throughout the airport but the strongest signal can be found on the second and third floors of the departures area and in arrivals halls B and E. There is no login procedure.
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