Star Alliance to Open New Lounge at Incheon Airport | Star Alliance and Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a dedicated Star Alliance lounge at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, ensuring continued premium lounge access for eligible passengers after Asiana Airlines exits the alliance in December.
Under the agreement, the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 will transition into a Star Alliance-branded lounge. Operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, coinciding with Asiana Airlines’ departure from Star Alliance on December 16 as part of its integration with Korean Air.
The transition is designed to prevent disruption to premium services currently enjoyed by eligible Star Alliance passengers using Asiana’s lounges at the airport.
The new lounge will serve passengers travelling on 14 Star Alliance member airlines operating at Incheon, with connections to 29 destinations worldwide. The facility will become the alliance’s seventh dedicated lounge globally, adding to its existing lounges at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Los Angeles International and Guangzhou Baiyun airports, among others.
Star Alliance said the decision reflects Incheon’s growing importance as a global aviation gateway. The airport ranked first worldwide for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026, according to the release.
Ambar Franco, Vice President Customer Experience at Star Alliance, said the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to delivering a consistently high-quality passenger experience.
IIAC Chief Operating Officer Kim Chang-gyu said the agreement forms part of efforts to maintain stable, high-quality passenger services amid significant changes involving the integration of Asiana Airlines and Korean Air.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen Incheon’s premium passenger infrastructure and support Star Alliance members operating from Terminal 1.
Star Alliance, established in 1997, comprises 26 airlines offering travellers access to more than 1,150 airports across 190 countries.
Star Alliance to Open New Lounge at Incheon Airport | AviationGhana.com
