There are two international airports and several smaller domestic airports that serve the greater metropolitan area of Seoul. Kimpo International Airport, built during the Korean War, was annexed by the city of Seoul in 1963. Originally the only international airport in the area, it now serves mainly as a domestic flight hub, except for flights to Tokyo Haneda International Airport and Osaka Kansai International Airport in Japan, as well as Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai.
Kimpo International Airport is 17 km (10 miles) west of Seoul by way of the Olympic Expressway. Limousine bus service is available to and from the City Air Terminal at the World Trade Center. Kimpo also has its own subway station on Line 5 that runs approximately every 10 minutes.
It has three terminals for international and domestic service. Terminal 1 provides service for Cathay Pacific, KLM, Singapore Airlines, JAL, British Airways, ANA, Northwest Airlines, and United Airlines. Terminal 2 provides international service for Asiana, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Qantas, Air France, Swissair, and Air New Zealand. Terminal 3 provides domestic service for Asiana and Korean Air.
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, and is located 70 km (43 miles) west of Seoul on the Yeongjong-Yongyu Island. The Incheon International Airport Expressway (Expressway 130) connects the island to the mainland and Seoul, and also connects with Kimpo International Airport. Incheon International is the hub for Asiana Airlines and Korean Airlines, and provides service for over 70 domestic and international air carriers.
The Incheon International Airport Railroad (AREX) links to Kimpo International, although construction currently underway for service to Seoul is scheduled for completion by 2010. Passengers arriving at the airport can board AREX at the Transportation Center, which is adjacent to the main terminal.