SOUTHAMERICA From Colombia, joined Dec 2003, 2496 posts, RR: 14 Posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1682 times:
Hi,
I'm a little confused here.
Two international airports seeem to belong to Seoul. There's Kimpo Int'l (GMP) and Incheon Int'l airport (ICN), which is mentioned more often here in the forum.
I would really want to know what are the differences between both airports? Do they handle the same amount of traffic/airlines? Which one is better from your own prespective? Which one is Asiana's or Korean Air's hub? Are they far away from the city? And from each other? Is it just like Tokyo with Narita and Haneda?
If anyone can please answer some or all of these questions, it would be really appreciated.
Yanksn4 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1395 posts, RR: 13 Reply 1, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1664 times:
Isn't Kimpo home to the United States base in Korea?
Hoons90 From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2692 posts, RR: 54 Reply 2, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1660 times:
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Isn't Kimpo home to the United States base in Korea?
Incorrect. The US Air base is located in Osan.
Kimpo used to serve as Seoul's international airport until March 31st 2001, when Incheon International Airport opened. Since then, Incheon became the international hub, and Kimpo then became a domestic only airport. But now, there is a new Kimpo - Haneda shuttle service operated by ANA, JAL, Korean and Asiana, since November 30 2003. There are also a few domestic services from ICN to PUS and CJU too.
The biggest mistake made by most human beings: Listening to only half, understanding just a quarter and telling double.
Flying-b773 From Singapore, joined Apr 2001, 390 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1641 times:
being an old airport itself, it is not really too gorgeous as an international airport so to speak... the first impression counts a lot.. basically if you find bkk to be a bit run down, thats what you can expect from kimpo. like hoons90 had mentioned, kimpo no longer serves intl flights except to haneda.
however, incheon is a different story. the structure looks magnificant. It is as good as hkg, if not better. you will like incheon because it is easy to take photographs and the whole terminal is connected. Unlike kimpo, there is a wall between a number of gates (example gate1-8, gate9 - 16)... correct me if i m wrong.
as for distance wise, incheon is definitely further from the downtown kimpo...but incheon airport makes the travelling time worth...
Homer71 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 2209 posts, RR: 16 Reply 4, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1635 times:
FYI, USAF in Korea also have a base in Kunsan and have limited ops at Suwon, Taegu, and Kwangju
I would love to visit ICN, the pics I've seen are awesome, with the beautiful terminal and location on the built-up island...
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Airtangora From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 67 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1617 times:
I flew in/out of ICN in September '03 and it is a great airport! Large, open, airy, bright and full of wonderful international folks!
Yes, the airport is far from downtown, but so are many of the United States' major airports. ORD, DTW, DIA, DFW among many others are quite a hike from the down town cities the serve, so in that regard, ICN is not too far out.
Not to mention the shuttle busses that we took to/from the airport are WONDERFUL! It was a standard bus, but these have 2-1 seating! Large leather seats reline quite nicely. In fact, I wish the flight back home had such nice seats. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip to downtown Seoul.
Seoul, by the way, is simply fantastic. It is the best-kept secret in all of Asia! Affordable, clean, modern, friendly, fantastic food and the subway system is the most extensive that I have ever seen! If you get a chance, go and visit this remarkable city.
(I’m still working on my NWA trip report to post…)
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Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1867 posts, RR: 16 Reply 6, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1600 times:
My father flew through Kimpo in 1995 and 1997 and said it was looking a little tired... and that the city had sort of grown around it (lots of high rise apartments surrounding the airport, sort of like Kai Tak.)
Apparently, Seoul had another airport before Kimpo that was even closer to the city. This was back in the 1950s and 1960s. Does anyone know the status of this airport? Is it a military airfield now?
Hoons90 From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2692 posts, RR: 54 Reply 8, posted (9 years 5 months 3 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 1552 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
Apparently, Seoul had another airport before Kimpo that was even closer to the city. This was back in the 1950s and 1960s. Does anyone know the status of this airport? Is it a military airfield now?
If you mean Yeouido Airport.. it became a park...
The biggest mistake made by most human beings: Listening to only half, understanding just a quarter and telling double.
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