Managing some of the world's best airports is a feat that Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) is fast gaining world recognition for. The Air Transport Research Society has named three of the 14 airports that KAC operates across South Korea as the most efficient in Asia in 2014. These include Gimhae International Airport in the No 1 slot, followed by Jeju International Airport. Ranking fifth in the tally, KAC's Gimpo International Airport has also been making waves globally in the area of customer satisfaction. For five consecutive years since 2010, the Airports Council International has named Gimpo as the world's best airport in terms of service quality for the medium-size airport category. Located only 20 minutes from downtown Seoul, passengers can travel from the city centre to the airport at a surprisingly low fare of US$1 while airlines can enjoy the airport's lower landing and usage fees compared with other Asian airports. Gimpo also applies state-of-the-art technology such as baggage tracking system and mobile check-in application to enable passengers to complete the departure process in only 10 minutes. "We've achieved the difficult task of improving operational efficiency without compromising on service quality," says Kim Seok-ki, KAC president and CEO. "We continuously build on our best experiences in airport management to optimise the functionality of South Korean airports." Since its establishment in 1980, the company has been focusing on airport construction and management, overseeing seven international and seven domestic airports nationwide. KAC is also a global leader in developing air navigation and flight information systems, and offers its consulting services overseas to cover areas such as global airport operation, architecture and engineering, and aviation training and education. "Airports should go beyond their traditional role of transporting people and goods," Kim says. We're providing passengers with a new experience by creating an innovative approach that combines culture with business." This is the concept behind KAC's "Vision 2020: A World-class Airports Corporation Creating Biz and Life". Gimpo showcases this commitment by incorporating a shopping complex with a department store, cinemas, parking space for 5,000 cars and a golf driving range. Aimed at attracting more flights to South Korea, KAC plans to make new routes between second-tier airports of South Korea and China to promote economic and cultural exchange between the two countries. "We're building stronger partnerships with airports around the world and expanding our air route network," Kim says. "We're also working closely with local governments, travel agencies, tourism organisations, air carriers and peer airports overseas to better serve inbound traffic from neighbouring countries." A special focus of this approach is China, which accounts for about half of KAC's international passenger traffic. The company has opened 22 new routes to China from Yangyang International Airport, doubling KAC's total passenger volume last year. KAC has also widened its visa waiver programme for Chinese tourists who are visiting Jeju island and has applied the waiver policy to other international airports including Daegu, Cheongju, Muan and Yangyang. Gimpo is next in line. Focusing on Official Development Assistance-funded global projects, KAC hopes to share its expertise overseas. The company is developing a worldwide reputation as a leading consultant in areas such as training and education, operation and maintenance, and build-operate-transfer schemes. "We're preparing for a vigorous leap into the 21st century and to become an even more trustworthy public enterprise," Kim says. "We're excited to achieve this vision with parties willing to raise such value and sincerely attend to the needs of passengers. For example, we're enhancing our transportation services for passengers with special needs." Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) http://www.airport.co.kr
