Star Alliance to Open Its Own Lounge at Incheon as Asiana Leaves

Star Alliance and Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish an alliance-run lounge at Terminal 1, ensuring that premium passengers of member airlines keep a lounge at Seoul’s main gateway after Asiana Airlines leaves the alliance.

What the Agreement Covers

Under the MOU, the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 will become a Star Alliance lounge. It is expected to begin operating in the fourth quarter of 2026, in step with Asiana’s departure from the alliance on 16 December 2026, which follows its integration with Korean Air.

Eligible passengers travelling with Star Alliance member airlines currently use Asiana’s lounges at Incheon. Without a replacement, that access would end when Asiana exits. Fourteen Star Alliance member airlines operate at Incheon, connecting to 29 destinations worldwide, according to the alliance.

The lounge will be the seventh Star Alliance-branded lounge in the world, joining existing sites at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Los Angeles and Guangzhou Baiyun.

Context: The Korean Air-Asiana Integration

Asiana is being integrated with Korean Air. Asiana’s membership of Star Alliance ends on 16 December 2026, so the alliance is acting to keep a physical presence at a hub where it has many members. Incheon was the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026, according to coverage of the announcement.

Ambar Franco, Star Alliance’s vice president of customer experience, said the partnership with IIAC “reflects our shared commitment to delivering a consistently high-quality experience for customers.” The alliance describes itself as 26 member airlines serving more than 1,150 airports in 190 countries.

Open Questions

The announcement does not say how access will work for different fare classes, what the transition will look like for the physical space, or what happens to Asiana’s other lounges at the airport as its integration with Korean Air proceeds. The alliance has only said the lounge is expected to open in the fourth quarter, in conjunction with Asiana’s departure.

With 14 member airlines still flying to Incheon, the lounge keeps a physical presence for the alliance at a major Asian hub. Further details are expected from the alliance and IIAC as the opening approaches.