by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 11:15 AM ET, Tue September 15, 2026
Eligible passengers flying on Star Alliance member airlines will still be able to take advantage of their lounge benefits at Incheon International Airport according to a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Presently, Star Alliance passengers can access the Asiana Air lounge when flying through Incheon. Air Asiana is being integrated into Korean Airlines and will be leaving Star Alliance, which would mean that as of Dec. 16, Star Alliance passengers would no longer have a lounge option at the Korean airport. This MOU between the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) and Star Alliance will create a new premium Star Alliance lounge at Terminal 1 of the airport, which ranked as the world’s number one airport for international passenger traffic in the first half of 2026.
Members of Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) and Star Alliance at the MOU signing (Photo Credit: Star Alliance)
“Incheon International Airport is an important gateway for Star Alliance, with several member airlines operating here,” says Ambar Franco, Vice President Customer Experience at Star Alliance. “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.”
The lounge will be the seventh Star Alliance lounge in the world, which currently include lounges at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
“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.” says Kim Chang-gyu, Chief Operation Officer at Incheon International Airport Corporation. “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.”
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