The new gateway to South Korea and Seoul, the impressive Incheon International Airport is now the international airport of choice for travelers. There are tons of flights arriving into the airport on a daily basis. Whether you are coming from America, Europe, Africa, Australia or other parts of Asia, this will probably be your first glimpse of Korea. The attendants are friendly and cheerful. Do take comfortable shoes as the distances are long in this huge airport.
Written Mar 21, 2004
I flew with Korean airways into Incheon and would like to say that they were attentive, pleasant and very efficient. I would not hesitate to use them again. I have now travelled on many airlines (all in economy unfortunately) and would place this airline at the top of the pile from my experience.
Written Aug 13, 2006
All international flights arrive at Incheon International Airport. It is situated in Incheon which is about 50 kilometres from Seoul in western direction. It was openend it 2001 and built on an island.
Domenstic flights arrive and depart at the old Gimpo Airport. But some cities (like Busan) can be also reached directly from Incheon Airport.
Airport tax is 15.000 won for international flights and 4.000 won for domestic flights.
The picture on your left shows the new international airport in Incheon. Thanks to Radio Korea International in Seoul for this postcard! (It is not allowed to take photos of the aiport.)
Updated Jan 4, 2003
Website: www.airport.or.kr
Incheon airport... pick up an English paperback at the bookshop, get last minute MAC lipstick, it's sunny and modern. Though I feel ashamed that I can't speak Korean, still it is an international airport... but don't be surprised if most of the airport staff DO NOT speak English! Japanese might help you! And I hear Chinese is gaining in popularity now... ;)
Use taxis, around $2US from most A-B locations. Again, don't expect the driver to understand English!
Written Aug 26, 2002
I flew this time from Tokyo to Seoul(Kimpo International Airport) on Northwest Airlines http://www.nwa.com/
The airline offering the cheapest deal at the time I flew was United Airlines
Previously I have always flown from Fukuoka, Japan to Seoul on Korean Air
The cost from Fukuoka (buying your ticket in Japan) is around 20,000 yen return. From Tokyo my ticket cost 44,000 return but it's possible to get there for around 30,000 yen if you buy your ticket well in advance.
*NOTE *
Korea's new International Airport at Inchon was opened on March 29,2001. This will probably add another hour to your journey into central Seoul.
For more information on the new airport go to Incheon International Airport
Updated Aug 26, 2004
From Aus you can fly Korean Air or Asiana direct. I didn't care for it, so I recommend Cathay Pacific via HK which is excellent.
You will now arrive at Incheon Int. Airport about 60 to 80 minutes bus ride from the city. Tip: Take the Korean Air Bus to the city. It is comfortable, quick and costs you only W10,000.
Seoul Subway is cheap and efficient. Stations are numbered by line and that helps. A ticket within Seoul costs W600.
Updated Aug 24, 2002
The airport is located 52km (32 miles) from Seoul at 2850 Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon City 400-700. It is connected to seoul via the Seoul International Airport Expressway (you pay tolls for it) It is the Main Gateway to South Korea and the Main Hubs of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines and since 2001 has replaced the old gimpo airport (which is now a domestic airport) as the flagship airport of south korea. The terminal has 44 boarding ports (all of which can accommodate the new Airbus 380), 50 customs inspection ports, 2 biological quarantine counters, 6 stationary and 14 portable passenger quarantine counters, 120 arrival passport inspection counters, 8 arrival security ports, 28 departure security ports, 252 check in counters, and 120 departure passport inspection counters.
Regular, deluxe and jumbo taxis (for up to nine people) can be hired at the airport (journey time to central Seoul - 50 minutes). Taxi stands are situated at the Arrivals floor exit (airport taxis costs about 55,000 won one way to seoul including toll fee!)
Updated Jul 22, 2008
Phone: (821) 577-26-00
Website: www.airport.or.kr/Eng
Korean Airlines is largest airline based in South Korea, it operates a network that links Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, North America to its hub at Incheon International Airport and its domestic hub at Gimpo International Airport.It flies to about 110 cities in more than 30 countries worldwide. The Asia/Pacific region and the US account for most of its traffic. The airline extends its network as part of the SkyTeam global marketing and code-sharing alliance, which is led by Delta Air Lines and Air France. (Code-sharing allows carriers to sell tickets on one another's flights.)
Incidentally, it provides the cheapest fare to South Korea
Inside Korea: 1588-2001
From US and Canada: +1-800-438-5000 (Toll Free)
From Overseas: +1-213-484-1900
Updated Jul 22, 2008
Phone: 1588-2001
Website: www.koreanair.com/
Kimpo was the former Premier Airport Hub of Seoul until 2001 when Incheon Airport took over and nowadays it is used mailny for domestic flights and few international flights to Japan. the airport is located at 274 Gwahae-dong, Ganseo-gu, Seoul and is also connected to incheon via a railway. I have found some of my old pictures of the airport to paste here.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Phone: (822) 2660-2114
INCHON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - I've been told that all international flights will leave from and arrive at Inchon International Airport and that KIMPO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT will be mostly for domestic flights. Most hotels have buses or cabs at your disposal. If you're coming from other parts of Korea, you can opt for a train or bus, in addition to flying. You can take the subway/metro from the airport into Seoul.
Usually, the most efficient is the subway. Seoul is constructing additional lines, for the time being there are 8 or 9 lines, taking you to many points in Seoul and to the nearby suburbs. You can also take a bus, there are 3 types of buses (for travel within the city). One, the regular city bus, usually of orange/white color combo. Two, the express bus, which is a little more (still cheaper than bus fares in the U.S.). The express buses don't make as many stops and have more comfortable seats. Third, the 'village' bus. These exist as shuttle buses within a neighborhood of Seoul. They usually shuttle people to their local subway station. You can also take a taxi--make sure you ask how much it'll cost. Korean cabbies have fare meters, fares start higher in the evening until early dawn. There are 2 types of taxis: the normal silver colored ones and the black colored deluxe cabs. The black colored cabs base fee is double that of the normal cabs. Just remember that. In comparison to other large cities, transportation is cheap within Korea.
Written Aug 25, 2002
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