Incheon Airport is the main international airport of South Korea. Located in Yeongjong island of Jung-district, Incheon, around 60 km west of Seoul, Incheon Airport has been the primary gateway for international visitors to South Korea.

First opened in March 2001, the airport has been undergoing multiple expansion projects to facilitate growing passenger and cargo traffic. As of June 2025, Incheon Airport authority operates two passenger terminals, namely Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and four runways.

In 2024, Incheon airport served around 71 million international passengers, a figure that is similar with its pre-pandemic number in 2019. The international passenger traffic for 2024 was the third highest globally, coming after Dubai International Airport and London Heathrow Airport. Besides the rebound in travel and tourism, the rise in passenger traffic at Incheon Airport reflects its growing status as a key passenger hub in Northeast Asia, as more airlines open routes to and from the airport or designate it as a transit point.

High passenger traffic at Incheon Airport naturally translates to numerous airlines operating from the airport. For Terminal 1 alone, as of June 2025, there are 69 passenger airlines operating from the terminal. Combined with 9 airlines operating from Terminal 2, a total of 78 passenger airlines currently operate from Incheon Airport.

Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport are separated at around 15 km of road distance. Hence, transferring between the terminals can sometimes be an unforeseen issue especially for transit passengers without onward boarding pass. Additionally, the sheer size of the terminal building, particularly Terminal 1, can be a hassle for passengers who arrive at the airport near to check-in closing time but enter the departure hall from the side afar from the check-in counters.

In this article, we will provide you the information about passenger airlines operating from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and the locations of their check-in counters. We gathered the information by combining the online information found at the official Incheon Airport website with the onsite information displayed on the information board installed at the airport.

Passenger Airlines at Incheon Airport Terminal 1

On the official Incheon Airport web portal, you can find the list of airlines operating from Incheon Airport, both at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The list on the web portal includes not only passenger airlines but also cargo airlines.

Specific to passenger airlines, the airlines operating from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

• AERO K (RF)
• Aero Mongolia (M0)
• Air Asia Philippines (Z2)
• Air Asia X (D7)
• Air Astana (KC)
• Air Busan (BX)
• Air Canada (AC)
• Air China (CA)
• Air India (AI)
• Air Japan (NQ)
• Air Macau (NX)
• Air Premia (YP)
• Air Seoul (RS)
• Air Asia Berhad (AK)
• American Airlines (AA)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Batik Air (OD)
• Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Cebu Pacific (5J)
• China Eastern Airlines (MU)
• China Southern Airlines (CZ)
• Eastar Jet (ZE)
• Emirates (EK)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Etihad Airways (EY)
• Eva Air (BR)
• Finnair (AY)
• Greater Bay Airlines (HB)
• Hainan Airlines (HU)
• Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• HK Express (UO)
• Hong Kong Airlines (HX)
• Jeju Air (7C)
• Jetstar (JQ)
• Lao Airlines (QV)
• LOT Polish Airlines (LO)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• MIAT Mongolian Airlines (OM)
• Myanmar Airways Int’l (8M)
• Peach (MM)
• Philippines Airlines (PR)
• Qanot Sharq Airline (HH)
• Qantas (QF)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Qingdao Airlines (QW)
• Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)
• Scoot (TR)
• Shandong Airlnes (SC)
• Shanghai Airlines (FM)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
• Sichuan Airlines (3U)
• Singapore Airlnes (SQ)
• Sky Angkor Airlines (ZA)
• Spring Airlines (9C)
• Srilankan Airlines (UL)
• Swiss Int’l Air Lines (LX)
• Thai Air Asia X (XJ)
• Thai Airways (TG)
• Tianjin Airlines (GS)
• Tigerair Taiwan (IT)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• T’way Air (TW)
• United Airlines (UA)
• Uzbekistan Airways (HY)
• Vietjet Air (VJ)
• Vietnam Airlines (VN)
• WestJet (WS)
• Zip Air (ZG)

In total, there are 69 passenger airlines operating from Incheon Airport Terminal 1. That number excludes airlines without physical presence as in check-in counters but having codeshare arrangement with airlines that operate counters at Terminal 1.

List of Airlines by Alliance at Incheon Airport Terminal 1

Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport can be said as the designated terminal for Star Alliance and Oneworld Alliance. There are 13 Star Alliance member airlines and 7 Oneworld Alliance member airlines operating from Incheon Airport Terminal 1.

Star Alliance member airlines that operate from Incheon Airport Terminal 1 are as follows:

• Air Canada (AC)
• Air China (CA)
• Air India (AI)
• Asiana Airlines (OZ)
• Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
• Eva Air (BR)
• LOT Polish Airlines (LO)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ)
• Swiss Int’l Air Lines (LX)
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• United Airlines (UA)

For Oneworld Alliance, the following member airlines run their operation from Incheon Airport Terminal 1:

• American Airlines (AA)
• Cathay Pacific (CX)
• Finnair (AY)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• Qantas (QF)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Srilankan Airlines (UL)

Most Sky Team member airlines operate from Incheon Airport Terminal 2. However, there are two SkyTeam member airlines that operate from Terminal 1: China Eastern Airlines (MU) and Vietnam Airlines (VN).

Airline Check-in Counters at Incheon Airport Terminal 1

Check-in counters at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 are located in the departure entrance hall on the departure level (third floor) of the Terminal 1 Building. The entrance hall itself is divided into 13 sections, with each section being assigned a letter as identifier: A to N.

The check-in counter locations are shown in more detail in the check-in counter map below. As can be seen in the map, the letter A to N represent check-in counter sections. Passengers coming from outside enter the check-in area in the entrance hall from any of the 14 available gate entrances. A counter island that houses check-in counters separate two different sections. Counters assigned in the same section (counters with the same letter identifier) are placed on the west and/or east sides of a section. Therefore, a counter island may house counters from two different sections. A maximum of 18 counters can be housed on each side of a counter island.

As you can see in the check-in counter map above, check-in sections are represented as letters from A to N. There are only 13 sections assigned as the letter I is not used in the section identifier. Check-in counter assignment for each section is explained as follows.

Note: 6h means that check-in counters open 6 hours before flight departure time. Without that marker, check-in counters open 3 hours before flight departure time.

Section A:

• Asiana Airlines (OZ) – 6h

Section B:

• Asiana Airlines (OZ) – 6h

Section C:

• Asiana Airlines (OZ) – 6h

Section D:

• Aero Mongolia (M0) – 6h
• Air Asia Philippines (Z2)
• Air Japan (NQ) – 6h
• Air Seoul (RS) – 6h
• Asiana Airlines (OZ) – 6h
• Hawaiian Airlines (HA)
• LOT Polish Airlines (LO)
• Singapore Airlines (SQ) – 6h
• Turkish Airlines (TK)
• United Airlines (UA) – 6h

Section E:

• Air Canada (AC) – 6h
• China Southern Airlines (CZ) – 6h
• Eva Air (BR) – 6h
• Hainan Airlines (HU)
• Myanmar Airways Int’l (8M)
• Vietjet Air (VJ)

Section F:

• Ethiopian Airlines (ET) – 6h
• Greater Bay Airlines (HB)
• Scoot (TR)
• Sichuan Airlines (3U)
• Tianjin Airlines (GS)
• T’way Air (TW) – 6h
• Vietnam Airlines (VN) – 6h

Section H:

• AERO K (RF) – 6h
• Air Premia (YP)
• Batik Air (OD)
• Eastar Jet (ZE) – 6h
• HK Express (UO) – 6h
• Qantas (QF)
• Sky Angkor Airlines (ZA)
• Spring Airlines (9C) – 6h
• Tigerair Taiwan (IT)
• Uzbekistan Airways (HY)

Section J:

• China Eastern Airlines (MU) – 6h
• Etihad Airways (EY) – 6h
• Finnair (AY)
• Jetstar (JQ)
• Lufthansa (LH)
• Qatar Airways (QR)
• Shanghai Airlines (FM) – 6h
• Swiss Int’l Air Lines (LX)

Section K:

• Air Asia X (D7) – 6h
• Air Busan (BX) – 6h
• Air Asia Berhad (AK)
• Cathay Pacific (CX) – 6h
• Emirates (EK)
• MIAT Mongolian Airlines (OM) – 6h
• Peach (MM) – 6h
• Qanot Sharq Airline (HH)
• Thai Air Asia X (XJ)

Section L:

• Jeju Air (7C) – 6h

Section M:

• Air China (CA) – 6h
• Air India (AI)
• American Airlines (AA) – 6h
• Cebu Pacific (5J)
• Hong Kong Airlines (HX) – 6h
• Lao Airlines (QV)
• Malaysia Airlines (MH)
• Philippines Airlines (PR) – 6h
• Qingdao Airlines (QW)
• Royal Brunei Airlines (BI)
• Shenzhen Airlines (ZH) – 6h
• Srilankan Airlines (UL)
• Thai Airways (TG) – 6h
• WestJet (WS)
• Zip Air (ZG)

Section N:

• Air Astana (KC)
• Air Macau (NX)
• Shandong Airlines (SC) – 6h

Section G is the center area of the entrance hall. There is no check-in counter in this section.

After a passenger completes the check-in process, the passenger will then proceed to the security check area through the security check gates. There are 6 security check gates at Incheon Airport Terminal 1. However, only 4 gates are operational. Security check gate 1 and security check gate 6 are currently closed.

You can monitor the passenger traffic for each security check gate on the passenger queue monitoring panel installed near to the security check gate entrance. This information will be very helpful especially when there is long queue at the security check gate entrance nearest to your check-in counter.

Check-in Counters at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 by Airlines

The following table summarizes the location of check-in counters for each passenger airline that operates from Incheon Airport Terminal 1.

No	Airline Name	IATA Code	Check-in Section	Nearest Entrance
1	AERO K	RF	H	Gate 8
2	Aero Mongolia	M0	D	Gate 4
3	Air Asia Philippines	Z2	D	Gate 4
4	Air Asia X	D7	K	Gate 10
5	Air Astana	KC	N	Gate 14
6	Air Busan	BX	K	Gate 10
7	Air Canada	AC	E	Gate 5
8	Air China	CA	M	Gate 13
9	Air India	AI	M	Gate 13
10	Air Japan	NQ	D	Gate 4
11	Air Macau	NX	N	Gate 14
12	Air Premia	YP	H	Gate 8
13	Air Seoul	RS	D	Gate 4
14	Air Asia Berhad	AK	K	Gate 10
15	American Airlines	AA	M	Gate 13
16	Asiana Airlines	OZ	A-D	Gate 2, 3, 4
17	Batik Air	OD	H	Gate 8
18	Cathay Pacific	CX	K	Gate 10
19	Cebu Pacific	5J	M	Gate 13
20	China Eastern Airlines	MU	J	Gate 9
21	China Southern Airlines	CZ	E	Gate 5
22	Eastar Jet	ZE	H	Gate 8
23	Emirates	EK	K	Gate 10
24	Ethiopian Airlines	ET	F	Gate 6
25	Etihad Airways	EY	J	Gate 9
26	Eva Air	BR	E	Gate 5
27	Finnair	AY	J	Gate 9
28	Greater Bay Airlines	HB	F	Gate 6
29	Hainan Airlines	HU	E	Gate 5
30	Hawaiian Airlines	HA	D	Gate 4
31	HK Express	UO	H	Gate 8
32	Hong Kong Airlines	HX	M	Gate 13
33	Jeju Air	7C	L	Gate 12
34	Jetstar	JQ	J	Gate 9
35	Lao Airlines	QV	M	Gate 13
36	LOT Polish Airlines	LO	D	Gate 4
37	Lufthansa	LH	J	Gate 9
38	Malaysia Airlines	MH	M	Gate 13
39	MIAT Mongolian Airlines	OM	K	Gate 10
40	Myanmar Airways Int’l	8M	E	Gate 5
41	Peach	MM	K	Gate 10
42	Philippines Airlines	PR	M	Gate 13
43	Qanot Sharq Airline	HH	K	Gate 10
44	Qantas	QF	H	Gate 8
45	Qatar Airways	QR	J	Gate 9
46	Qingdao Airlines	QW	M	Gate 13
47	Royal Brunei Airlines	BI	M	Gate 13
48	Scoot	TR	F	Gate 6
49	Shandong Airlnes	SC	N	Gate 14
50	Shanghai Airlines	FM	J	Gate 9
51	Shenzhen Airlines	ZH	M	Gate 13
52	Sichuan Airlines	3U	F	Gate 6
53	Singapore Airlnes	SQ	D	Gate 4
54	Sky Angkor Airlines	ZA	H	Gate 8
55	Spring Airlines	9C	H	Gate 8
56	Srilankan Airlines	UL	M	Gate 13
57	Swiss Int’l Air Lines	LX	J	Gate 9
58	Thai Air Asia X	XJ	K	Gate 10
59	Thai Airways	TG	M	Gate 13
60	Tianjin Airlines	GS	F	Gate 6
61	Tigerair Taiwan	IT	H	Gate 8
62	Turkish Airlines	TK	D	Gate 4
63	T’way Air	TW	F	Gate 6
64	United Airlines	UA	D	Gate 4
65	Uzbekistan Airways	HY	H	Gate 8
66	Vietjet Air	VJ	E	Gate 5
67	Vietnam Airlines	VN	F	Gate 6
68	WestJet	WS	M	Gate 13
69	Zip Air	ZG	M	Gate 13

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many airlines use Incheon Airport Terminal 1?
A: As of June 2025, there are 69 passenger airlines with designated check-in counters operating from Incheon Airport Terminal 1. The number excludes passenger airlines with codeshare agreement that do not have designated check-in counters at Terminal 1.

Q: Where are the check-in counters for Asiana Airlines at Incheon Airport?
A: Check-in counters for Asiana Airlines are located at Section A to Section D in the Departure Hall on the third floor of Incheon Airport Terminal 1 building. Exact location of check-in counters that can be accessed by passengers depends on the cabin class, Asiana club or Star Alliance membership, and flight route. Check-ins for Asiana first class and business class passengers are done at counters located in Section A. For passengers with Asiana club gold / diamond / diamond plus / platinum memberships or Star Alliance gold membership, they can do check-ins at counters located in Section B. Most passengers will do check-ins in Section C and Section D.

Q: When is the check-in time for international departure at Incheon Airport Terminal 1?
A: The check-in time varies depending on the counter assignment. Airlines with somewhat permanent counter assignment open their check-in counters 6 hours before flight departure time. In contrast, airlines without permanent counters normally start doing check-ins three hours before flight departure time. Refer to the section above regarding the check-in time for each airline.