Asiana leaves Star Alliance, so Star Alliance is opening its own lounge at Seoul Incheon

News and analysis · Sources checked October 5, 2026.

Star Alliance passengers at Seoul Incheon have long relied on Asiana Airlines' lounges. That arrangement ends this winter. Asiana leaves Star Alliance at 11:59 p.m. Korean time on December 16, 2026 and merges into Korean Air the next day, as Milesopedia reports. Korean Air is a founding member of SkyTeam.

The alliance's answer is a lounge of its own. A memorandum of understanding signed on September 8 will turn the Asiana Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 into a Star Alliance-branded lounge, due to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. Business Traveller

What is planned

According to Business Traveller, the new lounge takes over the existing Asiana West lounge on the fourth-floor departure level of Terminal 1. That space already has a buffet, a bar, private work desks and showers. It will be Star Alliance's seventh branded lounge worldwide, serving the 14 member airlines that fly to Incheon and their 29 destinations from there.

Kim Chang-gyu, chief operations officer of Incheon International Airport Corporation, told the magazine the agreement is meant "to provide stable and high-quality services to passengers using Incheon Airport amid major changes, including the integration of Asiana Airlines and Korean Air".

What has not been published yet: an exact opening date, the final size, whether the lounge closes for refit first, and the access rules. Business Traveller describes the timing as coinciding with Asiana's exit, but "Q4 2026" is all that has been announced.

Why Star Alliance needs it

Asiana moved its own flights to Terminal 2 on January 14, 2026, but kept its Terminal 1 lounges running for Star partners. In May, Turis reported that Star Alliance Gold members and Star business and first passengers could still use the East, Central and West business lounges. Business Traveller says three Asiana lounges that Star passengers use today will become unavailable once Asiana leaves.

Without a replacement, a Star Gold flyer leaving Incheon Terminal 1 on a partner airline would have very few options. Turning one Asiana lounge into a neutral alliance lounge is the obvious fix, and it reuses a space that is already built and equipped.

What travellers should do now

• Until December 16, nothing changes. The Asiana East, Central and West lounges in Terminal 1 remain the main Star options. Our guides cover opening hours, which vary by lounge.
• After the exit, expect one Star Alliance lounge in place of three. Capacity is the obvious concern at the evening peak for long-haul departures.
• The SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 1 admits Star Gold members in our listing, but it keeps short opening windows built around Singapore Airlines' departures, so it is not a reliable fallback for every flight.
• Priority Pass holders should check their app. Turis reported Priority Pass access to the Asiana lounges when flying a Star carrier. Whether that continues at the new Star lounge has not been announced.
• Flying Asiana itself? From December 17 you are a Korean Air passenger in Terminal 2. Business Traveller says Asiana flyers move to Korean Air's SKYPASS and its lounges.

Our take

This is the right move and a well-timed one. The risk is in the gap between "Q4 2026" and December 16. If the conversion runs late, Star Gold members could spend the busy holiday season at Incheon without a lounge. Star Alliance should publish an opening date and access rules soon. We will update the West lounge guide when it does.

Related lounge guides

Asiana Business Lounge (West), ICN · Asiana Business Lounge (Central), ICN · Asiana Business Lounge (East), ICN · Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge (ICN)