Star Alliance and Incheon International Airport Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to convert Asiana Airlines’ Business Lounge (West) in Terminal 1 into a branded Star Alliance facility by Q4 2026. The move ensures continued lounge access for premium and Gold-tier passengers on the 14 Star member carriers operating at ICN—including Air Canada—after Asiana leaves the alliance on 16 December 2026 to merge with Korean Air. With Incheon ranked the world’s busiest airport for international passengers in H1 2026, the agreement protects a critical link in Air Canada’s Asia-Pacific network, which serves Toronto, Vancouver and upcoming Calgary flights. For corporate mobility managers the news averts anticipated service gaps for executives transiting through Seoul, maintaining shower facilities, meeting spaces and priority security lanes that underpin productive long-haul travel. The lounge will be Star Alliance’s seventh global location and reflects the alliance’s strategy of controlling key customer touchpoints rather than relying on individual member lounges. Air Canada Aeroplan Elite members can expect reciprocal benefits once the facility opens, but should note that access policies may tighten during the transition period.
Source: Air Canada Newsroom
