By Kim Se-jeong
Incheon International Airport Corp. said two fast-track security check areas will be availableb for disabled, elderly and pregnant passengers, Monday.
They currently use four areas along with other passengers.
The “fast-track” areas will be available for the disabled, passengers aged 80 or older, pregnant women and those with children aged 7 and younger. They will be at the eastern and western ends of the airport’s departure floor and will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
“People with disabilities wait much longer in the departure process as the airport gets busier,” said Hwang Young-mi, who handles terminal operations and planning at the airport. “This service was designed to provide a better service for them.”
According to airport statistics, the average waiting time in the departure process is 16 minutes for people with disabilities during popular travel times. During less-popular periods, it is six minutes. The airport expects that the new areas will cut the waiting time to 11 and three minutes, respectively.
Hwang said the airport would also give “good citizen passengers” access to the areas. The good citizens’ list will include good taxpayers and small and medium-sized company entrepreneurs recognized for setting examples for good business practices.
Passengers who wish to use the areas should get a fast-track pass from a check-in counter. ID cards are required to obtain the pass, airport officials said.
Airport authorities ran a pilot program in October for athletes who came to Korea to compete in the Incheon 2014 Asian Para Games.
The airport has seen the number of users grow rapidly in recent years as more people travel abroad. Hwang said the new service was expected to reduce airport delays for other passengers as well.