[앵커]
Korea Urban Airport, which was located in the middle of Gangnam, Seoul and called ‘Airport in the City’, has been suspended for over two years in the aftermath of Corona 19.
Airport bus operation resumed a month ago, but it is unclear whether the original functions such as boarding procedures and baggage handling will be restored.
Reporter Hwang Bo Hye-kyung reports.
[기자]
An airport terminal in the heart of downtown Seoul, Gangnam-gu.
The first floor was empty, and a large screen was placed in front of the rail where the luggage was moved.
This downtown airport is where boarding procedures, baggage handling, and immigration control were carried out before going to Incheon International Airport.
Due to COVID-19, we have been temporarily closed for over 2 years.
The shutdown period is until the end of September this year, but it is unclear whether it will resume.
This is because it is difficult to cover the deficit that has worsened in the aftermath of the Corona 19 and rising oil prices with only the rent of the building in a situation where it is operated without separate support.
City airport officials said that nothing has been decided yet on whether to reopen or close.
We plan to finalize the policy through internal discussions in September.
[전제동 / 서울 삼성동 : 한때는 모든 항공사가 다 입주해서 아주 활성화돼 있어요. 코로나19로 정체돼서 지금은 언제 열지 막연한 상황입니다.]
The direct bus from the city airport to Incheon Airport resumed operation a month ago.
Although the number of buses was cut by a third due to the impact of COVID-19, it is positive that the number of passengers is increasing during the holiday season.
From next month, we plan to increase the number of bus services and continue operation.
[권리타 / 서울 성내동 : 공항 갈 때는 항상 이렇게 리무진 버스 이용해서 갔었는데, 다시 이렇게 이용할 수 있게 되니까 편리해서 좋아요. (공항이 폐쇄되면) 아쉬울 것 같아요. 사람들이 여기로 오는 하나의 이유였는데….]
It is an urban airport with historicity and symbolism enough to pass through by foreign leaders for more than 30 years, but the aftermath of the Corona 19 could not be avoided.
If the airport is closed after September, only the role of a terminal heading to Incheon Airport will remain, so the citizens’ regret is likely to increase.
This is Hwang Bo Hye-kyung from YTN.
YTN Hwang Bo Hye-kyung (bohk1013@ytn.co.kr)
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