More than 50 mil. use Incheon airport

By Kim Jae-heun

The number of people who used Incheon International Airport this year surpassed 50 million, Tuesday, its operator said, Friday.

According to the Incheon International Airport Corp, (IIAC), it took 268 days before 50 million travelers used the airport _ the shortest period of time to reach the number. In 2017, it occurred on Oct. 23.

The IIAC is expecting the number of travelers to reach a record 68 million by the end of the year, up from 62 million last year.

Since the airport opened in 2001 and 1.45 million used it, the IIAC has witnessed the number increasing steadily, posting an annual growth rate of 9.5 percent. In 2016, it topped the 50 million mark for the first time.

The operator is expecting over 100 million people to travel through the airport soon, so it plans to expand Terminal 2 by 2023 and construct a fourth airstrip.