Star Alliance and Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a dedicated Star Alliance lounge at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, according to a joint announcement.

Incheon International Airport is the main international airport serving Seoul, the capital of South Korea.

The agreement aims to ensure continued premium lounge access for eligible passengers of Star Alliance member airlines after Asiana Airlines exits the alliance on December 16, 2026, as part of its integration with Korean Air. Star Alliance member airline passengers currently use Asiana Airlines lounges at Incheon Airport.

Under the MoU, the existing Asiana Airlines Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 will be converted into a Star Alliance lounge, with operations expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, coinciding with Asiana's departure from the alliance. The new lounge will serve passengers travelling with 14 Star Alliance member airlines operating at Incheon Airport, connecting them to 29 destinations worldwide, according to the announcement. Air India, one of the alliance's member carriers, operates two non-stop widebody Boeing 787 flights between Delhi and Incheon.

The facility will become the seventh Star Alliance-branded lounge worldwide, joining existing locations at Paris Charles de Gaulle, Los Angeles International, and Guangzhou Baiyun airports. Star Alliance member airline customers also have access to more than 1,000 airport lounges globally through existing partnership arrangements.

"Incheon International Airport is an important gateway for Star Alliance, with several member airlines operating here," said Ambar Franco, Vice President of Customer Experience at Star Alliance, at the signing ceremony. "This partnership with IIAC reflects our shared commitment to delivering a consistently high-quality experience for customers. We are proud to establish a Star Alliance lounge at one of the world's leading airports and look forward to welcoming our member airline customers at the airport."

Kim Chang-gyu, Chief Operation Officer at Incheon International Airport Corporation, said the agreement was part of the airport's efforts to maintain service continuity during a period of significant change in the South Korean aviation market. "This agreement is part of our efforts to provide stable and high-quality services to passengers using Incheon Airport amid major changes, including the integration of Asiana Airlines and Korean Air," he said. "We will continue to provide full support in terms of operations and facilities so that Star Alliance member airlines can expand various networks based at Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport and provide the best services to customers."

Incheon International Airport ranked as the world's number one airport for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026, according to the announcement.

Source: PR