Incheon, South Korea – While heavy snowfall has caused widespread flight delays and cancellations at Incheon International Airport, disrupting the travel plans of countless passengers, the airport's food and beverage outlets are experiencing a surge in sales.

According to a survey conducted by Incheon Ilbo on November 28th, as of 1:30 PM, 157 flights (155 international and 2 domestic) had been canceled, and 101 flights were delayed. This follows a similar pattern on November 27th, when 151 flights were canceled and 175 were delayed.

The constant changes in flight schedules have led to a significant increase in the number of passengers waiting in both departure terminals. As a result, food and beverage outlets within the airport have reported record-breaking sales. One restaurant reported a 25-32% increase in daily sales compared to the previous week, reaching approximately 20 million won. Another food and beverage outlet revealed that its sales over the two days of heavy snowfall exceeded twice the daily average during the peak summer season.

In contrast, duty-free shops have been hit hard by the flight disruptions. With many flights canceled or delayed, passenger traffic through the duty-free shopping areas has declined significantly. One duty-free shop reported a daily sales decrease of 4-5 billion won, compared to its usual daily sales of approximately 20 billion won. Most major duty-free shops have experienced a 20-25% drop in sales.

Incheon International Airport Corporation has advised passengers to check flight status in advance through the airport's or airlines' websites.

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