Incheon International Airport-A Vast Improvement. (Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN))

Member Name: michaelhudson

Product:	Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Date:	31/07/01 (303 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb facilities, more Immigration officers than the solitary figure at Kimpo

Disadvantages: Poor transport links, far from Seoul

Comparing Seoul's new international airport to Kimpo, it's predecessor, is a little like discussing the relative merits of Prague and Peterborough. The improved gateway to Korea, which opened on March 29th 2001, is truly an airport in the international class of Amsterdam's Schipol, Hong Kong's Chek Lap Tok and Osaka's Kansai. Indeed, the Korean authorities seem to have ripped-off(or should that read been inspired by?) a lot of the innovations of the aforementioned airports: one giant terminal building(an expensive glass structure that is supposed to have the appearance of a "winged city", check-in facilities that are an exact replica of Chek Lap Tok(no bad thing) and, to round it off, the airport has even been built on an island with one of the world's largest bridges linking it to the mainland.

The location of Incheon International Airport(In-cheon Kook-jay Kong-hang in Korean) is, to be honest, far from ideal. Whereas Kimpo(now reserved for domestic flights) is on the outskirts of Seoul city, Incheon is 52km west of Seoul and 15km beyond Incheon City(itself a 2002 World Cup venue and the fourth largest city in Korea-check out www.inpia.net for info. on the city, the World Cup and the airport). With an astounding lack of foresight the Korean government have yet to complete the transport links to their new showcase airport. With no subway link planned, and no rail link until 2007, visitors to next year's World Cup will find that the only access to the airport is via an expensive 18-lane Toll road. This motorway is reserved for airport traffic only so it is relatively jam-free. However, once you exit and get into the Seoul environs the traffic nightmare really starts if you're unlucky enougth to be travelling in the morning or evening rush hours. Another major flaw is the fact, that with Kimpo still in use as a domestic airport, passengers with connections to other Korean airports will either have to wait for the
very infrequent domestic flights from Incheon or take a half-hour bus ride to Kimpo with all their luggage.

Thus far-and I believe this will continue until after the World Cup-the government has subsidised the 'Limousine Buses' on the airport run(it costs 10000 Won(almost six pounds) to and from Seoul). Taxis are not recommended unless you have money to burn as they'll cost at least three times that much. Cost aside, the coaches are actually very comfortable with three seats instead of the usual four giving you more room, and the drive into Seoul takes you across some beautiful purple mud-flats just before you reach the bridge connecting Yongyu Island(where the airport is situated) and the mainland. If you're desperate to save some cash you can always get off at Kimpo(5000 Won) and take the subway into town(700 Won) or take one of the (much) slower coaches at 5500 Won. One tip for getting to the airport is to check-in at the Korea City Air Terminal(Exit 5 or 6 of Samsong Station on Subway line 2) which can be found next to the World Trade Centre building and the COEX Exhibition Centre in southern Seoul. You can take a Limousine Bus from here direct to the airport and miss out some of the queues, not to mention get rid of your luggage, at the airport itself. The telephone number for the KCAT IS 02 551 6102.

There may be a lot of problems with transport to and from the airport, but the facilities inside the place are truly excellent. As well as the usual assortment of over-priced restaurants and cheaper,though lacking in all atmosphere, snack bars there are also branches of Burger King(at check-in) and KFC(departure gates) as well as several bakeries with eat-in facilities. The Limousine buses are extremely easy to find upon arrival as they are right outside the exits and there are widescreen TV's at all the departure gates-unlike Schipol, where on my last visit every TV was silently tuned into CNN, all the TV's at Inche
on are tuned into different channels. With a little walking you should be able to find one showing an English-language Cable channel such as HBO Movies(which was showing
'The Empire Strikes Back" at gate 43 when I was there). There may be a little bit of transport chaos outside the airport but inside the force is truly strong.

Summary: