In our January article, we wrote about the planned use of Asiana Lounges at Terminal 1 (T1) according to local sources after the airline relocated its operations to Terminal 2 following the acquisition by Korean Air. In May we toured around Terminal 1 departure hall to find out the ground reality and gathered factual information that can be useful for those who are keen on visiting and accessing the T1 lounge before the airline is officially absorbed by Korean Air in December this year. A quick summary for the busy souls: as of May 2026, all Asiana Lounges at Terminal 1 were still open and accessible despite some adjustments on the lounge operations.
How Asiana’s Acquisition Impacts Lounge Operations at Terminal 1
In December 2024, Korean Air secured its final regulatory approval for acquiring Asiana Airlines from US Department of Justice. Following the approval, Korean Air began the process of integrating Asiana Airlines into its operations. According to local sources, the integration and merger process is set to be finalized on December 17, 2026, with Korean Air emerging as a single unified airline and Asiana Airlines brand disappearing from the market. The unified Korean Air will become the 12th largest carrier by international capacity with a fleet of roughly 250 aircraft, a significant bump from its current tally of 168 aircraft, and service over a half of South Korea’s passenger capacity.
A quite remarkable event of Asiana Airlines integration into Korean Air was the relocation of its operations to Incheon Airport Terminal 2. On January 14, 2026, Asiana Airlines officially relocated to Terminal 2 after 25 years of operations at Terminal 1 or since Incheon Airport was first opened in March 2021. Despite the relocation, Asiana Lounges at Terminal 1 didn’t immediately close and remain accessible to eligible passengers. One likely reason is that, despite the relocation and ongoing integration process, Asiana has yet to withdraw its Star Alliance membership. While Asiana is now the only Star Alliance member airline operating from Terminal 2, other Star Alliance carriers continue to operate from Terminal 1. Immediate closure of Asiana’s lounges in Terminal 1 where it operates four lounges will severely impact lounge availability and accessibility for other Star Alliance flights departing from Terminal 1.
In our previous article, we mentioned that two out of four lounges operated by Asiana at Terminal would be closed by the end of this year. It will be interesting to see how this really unfolds in December when the unified Korean Air officially begins its operation and Asiana Airlines officially ceases its operation. In parallel, it is also interesting to know the current change to the lounge operations and whether there is significant impact to lounge accessibility.
Based on our onsite observation in May, Asiana’s lounge operations at Terminal 1 can be summarized as follows:
- All Terminal 1 lounges remain open and accessible. Asiana East Lounges (Business Lounge, Business Suite Lounge), Asiana Business Lounge Central, and Asiana Business Lounge West continue to welcome eligible passengers
- Some lounges operate in less hours. East Lounges close earlier compared to the days when Asiana still operated from Terminal 1
- The lounges have assumed a new role as contract facilities. Several airlines now utilize Asiana lounges at Terminal 1 under contract arrangements
In the following section, we outline the operational changes for each lounge that we observed during our onsite visit.
Asiana Lounge East
In the east wing of Terminal 1 departure hall, Asiana Airlines operates two lounges: Asiana Business Lounge East and Asiana Business Suite Lounge. Entrance to the East lounges is located near to Gate 11 on the third floor. To get into the lounge, one should take the escalator or elevator to go up one level to the fourth floor.
The cosmetic change to Asiana East lounges was observed to be minimal. There was no change on the overhead sign at the entrance. The directional sign mounted at the center of the hallway also stayed unchanged.
Notwithstanding the minimal cosmetic change, other changes to East lounge access and operations were more evident:
- Shorter operating hours. When Asiana still operated from Terminal 1, the East lounge were open daily from 05:00 – 22:00. In May, the daily operating hours had been reduced significantly, with the lounge opening from 06:00 – 18:00. This means that for an evening flight, the East lounges wouldn’t be accessible anymore.
- Updated digital signage. The mounted digital signage near the lounge entrance on the third floor had been updated to reflect the lounge’s new role as a contract facility. The digital signage highlighted several non-Star Alliance carriers whose eligible passengers were granted access to the lounge.
Since the Business Lounge East was still operational, we asked the staff at the reception desk whether there had been an internal memo or insider information about the Business Lounge East closure date. We were informed that there was no such information or internal guidance about the East lounge closure date. This means that there is a good chance that the Business Lounge East will stay operational and accessible until the merger officially concludes in December this year.
Asiana Business Lounge Central
Asiana Business Lounge Central is accessible from its entrance near to Gate 26 on the third floor of Terminal 1 departure hall. Passengers should take an escalator or elevator near the entrance up to the fourth floor. To enter the lounge, passengers should cross a footbridge that connects the hallway on the fourth floor to the lounge area.
There was no noticeable cosmetic change to the Central lounge. As with the operating hours, the lounge still opens daily from 06:00 – 22:00, which is unchanged with respect to the operating hours when Asiana still operated from Terminal 1.
Asiana Business Lounge West
Near Gate 42 on the third floor of Terminal 1 departure hall is an aisle that leads to Asiana Business Lounge West. Passengers should take the escalator or elevator up to the fourth floor, where the lounge entrance is located. Similar to the Central lounge, a footbridge connects the entrance in the hallway to the lounge area.
Unlike the lounges, the cosmetic change at Asiana Business Lounge West is pretty noticeable. A signage mounted on one side of the entrance gate designates the space as “Star Alliance Gold Lounge” and has all logos or Star Airlines member airlines displayed. On the opposite side is another signage is installed to feature the new role of the Asiana lounge as a contract lounge.
As of May 2026, Asiana Business Lounge West, along with other Asiana lounges at Incheon Airport Terminal 1, has been operating as a contract lounge for the following airlines:
- Emirates
- Etihad
- Cathay Pacific
- Air Macau
- Air Astana
- Royal Brunei
- Shandong Airlines
If you’re flying business or first class with any of the airlines listed above, you will be eligible to access Asiana lounges at Incheon Airport Terminal 1.
Access to Asiana Lounges at Terminal 1 for Priority Pass Membership Holders
If you have Priority Pass membership, there is no change with regards to the lounge access at Incheon Airport Terminal 1. When you fly in a Star Alliance flight, you can access all Asiana Business Lounges: Asiana Business Lounge East, Asiana Business Lounge Central, and Asiana Business Lounge West. This also means that if your flight departing from Incheon is operated by a non-Star Alliance carrier, you’re not eligible for access to the Asiana Business Lounges.
Summary of Asiana Lounge Access at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 as of May 2026
As of May 2026, all Asiana lounges at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 remain in service with some adjustment on East lounges operating hours as shown in the following table:
| Lounge | Entrance | Status (May’26) | Current Operating Hours | Previous Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asiana Business Lounge East | Near to Gate 11 | In service | 06:00 – 18:00 | 05:00 – 22:00 |
| Asiana Business Suite Lounge | Near to Gate 11 | In service | 06:00 – 18:00 | 05:00 – 22:00 |
| Asiana Business Lounge Central | Near to Gate 26 | In service | 06:00 – 22:00 | 06:00 – 22:00 |
| Asiana Business Lounge West | Near to Gate 42 | In service | 06:00 – 00:30 | 06:00 – 00:30 |
As of May 2026, the Asiana Lounges have been operating as contract facilities for a number of airlines. Access eligibility for each lounge is outlined in the table below:
| Lounge | Access Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Business Lounges (Asiana Business Lounge East, Asiana Business Lounge Central, Asiana Business Lounge West) |
|
| Asiana Business Suite Lounge |
|
There has been official date on the closure of any of Asiana lounges at Terminal 1. Hence, it can be said that Asiana’s relocation to Terminal 2 in January 2026 has not impacted Star Alliance lounge availability and accessibility at Terminal 1 as of May 2026.
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