Incheon to open new cool centre for cargo later this year

Incheon International Airport has announced that it will open a new Cool Center to handle perishable cargo shipments in the second half of this year.

The new complex is expected to improve the airport’s hub competitiveness by reducing the transhipment time and costs for consignments ranging from fresh fruit and cut flowers to COVID-19 vaccines.

According to Incheon International Airport Corporation(IIAC) the construction project to build its new Cool Cargo Center is close to completion.

It notes that the centre’s location close to its second passenger terminal will also make it quicker and easier to handle perishable consignments transported in the belly-holds of passenger aircraft.

At the moment, belly cargo on passenger flights is towed to the cargo terminal to be unloaded after landing, the shipment is then carried to a warehouse and then transported to the passenger apron for re-loading. This will no longer be necessary when the new facility opens.

Incheon International Airport is currently ranked as the world’s third largest cargo hub measured by cargo volumes with transhipments accounting for around 40% of the total.

Set to open in September 2021, the new complex will be operated by Korean Air, which handles about 50% of Incheon’s total freight tonnage. Fellow home carrier, Asiana Airline, currently accommodates around 25% of the airport’s annual freight throughput.

IIAC anticipates the Cool Cargo Center will raise the airport’s cargo handling capacity by 55,000 tonnes annually.