An Analysis of the Operation Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Cargo at Incheon International Airport

Airports have traditionally been studied for their operational efficiency, but few studies have considered their environmental impact. This study analyzed the operational efficiency and environmental impact of the world’s major international airports, evaluated the operational status of each airport by year, and suggested improvement measures and strategies from the perspective of Incheon International Airport. To this end, this study analyzed the yearly efficiency changes of 20 international airports from 2018 to 2022, and explored various factors affecting airport operations. The result found that Hong Kong International Airport, Memphis International Airport, Ted Stevens Anchorage, and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport have consistently maintained optimal scale efficiency. When looking at the changes in efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study found an overall decline in airport efficiency, followed by a gradual recovery in 2021. Incheon International Airport’s scale efficiency ranged from 0.635 to 0.762, which is relatively low and needs improvement. Meanwhile, the technical efficiency of 10 airports, including Incheon International Airport, achieved the optimal level. In order to consider the environmental impact, this study analyzed the landing and take-off of each airport as an undesirable output factor. Hong Kong International Airport, Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, and Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport consistently achieved high efficiency, while Incheon International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport showed a decrease in efficiency due to negative factors. This research suggested that efficient scheduling is more important than simply increasing the number of flights to reduce environmental pollution. The results of this study are expected to serve as an important basis for improving the efficiency of airports in the future.