In brief
oneworld has opened its first fully branded airport lounge at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, created with Swissport and the team behind ASPIRE Airport Lounges. Located in Terminal 1, the space covers 555 square metres and can accommodate up to 148 customers. The alliance says the lounge is intended to give eligible passengers a place to relax and dine before departure. It is available to specified Cathay and oneworld status members, as well as First and Business Class passengers flying with a member airline. Seven oneworld airlines serve Incheon, and the release says they operate more than 60 weekly flights to Seoul, with network connections to more than 900 destinations. The opening comes as oneworld approaches its 25th anniversary in 2024.
Key takeaways
- The lounge is oneworld’s first fully branded airport lounge and is located in Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport.
- The facility spans 555 square metres and has capacity for up to 148 customers.
- Eligible customers include certain Cathay and oneworld members and First and Business Class passengers on member airlines.
- Seven oneworld airlines serve Incheon, operating more than 60 weekly flights to Seoul, according to the release.
Elevating the experience for customers of Cathay Pacific and fellow oneworld member airlines
January 24, 2024 -- Breaking new ground in premium benefits and luxury air travel, the oneworld® Alliance unveiled its first-ever fully branded dedicated airport lounge in Seoul.
The new oneworld lounge opens as the world’s leading airline alliance prepares to celebrate its landmark 25th anniversary later this year.
For the launch of its first branded lounge, oneworld collaborated with global aviation ground services provider Swissport and the team behind its award-winning ASPIRE Airport Lounges.
Situated in Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport, the spacious new oneworld lounge stretches across 555 square metres and features stylish seating in a contemporary new setting for up to 148 customers. The bright new lounge is no more than a 10-minute walk from the furthest oneworld airlines’ departure gates.
Incheon International Airport is served by seven oneworld member airlines: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways and SriLankan Airlines. Between them, these oneworld member airlines operate more than 60 weekly flights to Seoul, connecting the Korean capital with more than 900 destinations world-wide through the oneworld member network.
The new contemporary airport lounge experience provides oneworld customers with a vibrant and calming space to recharge, relax, and dine before their flight.
Gerhard Girkinger, oneworld Vice President, Customer Experience, Delivery and Membership, said: “With oneworld celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024, we are incredibly proud to be opening the very first oneworld branded lounge experience for our member airlines’ customers.
“The new oneworld lounge is an exciting next step in our vision to making travel bright. Together with ASPIRE, we have combined refined fixtures and finishes, digital technologies, and warm and ergonomic settings to create smart and memorable travel experiences.
“Our new Incheon lounge resets the benchmark for contemporary travel and will serve as the blueprint for future oneworld lounges in select airports around the world.”
Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia Lau said: “We are very excited to see oneworld’s first fully branded lounge launched at Incheon International Airport. For Cathay Pacific, it is meaningful to see this first alliance lounge opened in Korea, a market that has always been very important to us.
"Cathay Pacific has been a founding member of the oneworld alliance since 1999 and has always believed that together we can achieve a lot as an alliance. In particular, we strive to provide a consistent, superior, and seamless travel experience for all of our customers and members.
“With the opening of this fantastic new lounge, we are sure that the whole customer experience provided by oneworld will be elevated as it allows our customers and members to really relax and enjoy themselves in such a comfortable, colourful, and vibrant environment before taking their flights on any of the oneworld airlines.”
The new lounge is open daily between 7:30am and 11:45pm (please visit oneworld.com for the most up to date lounge opening hours) for Cathay Diamond and Gold, and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members; First and Business Class customers when travelling with any oneworld member airlines; as well as Cathay Silver members travelling on Cathay Pacific flights.
Datuk Captain Izham Ismail (fifth from left), Malaysia Aviation Group Managing Director; Lavinia Lau (fifth from right), Cathay Chief Customer and Commercial Officer; Gerhard Girkinger…
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Questions around this news
Who can use the new lounge at Incheon International Airport?
The release says access is available to Cathay Diamond and Gold members, oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, and First and Business Class customers travelling with any member airline. Cathay Silver members may use it when travelling on Cathay Pacific flights. The lounge is listed as open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m., with readers advised to check the alliance website for current hours.
Where is the lounge, and what facilities does it offer?
The lounge is in Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport. It covers 555 square metres and can accommodate up to 148 customers, with contemporary seating and a space to relax, dine or recharge before a flight. The release says it is within a 10-minute walk of the departure gates farthest away among those used by member airlines.
What is an airline alliance, and how can it benefit passengers?
An airline alliance is a partnership among separate airlines that coordinate aspects of their networks and customer services. Depending on the alliance and a traveller’s eligibility, benefits may include access to shared lounges, reciprocal frequent-flyer recognition, and easier connections between flights operated by different members. Each airline remains a separate company and sets its own policies.
What does an aviation ground-services provider do?
An aviation ground-services provider supplies operational services to airlines and airports while aircraft are on the ground. Depending on the arrangement, these services can include passenger handling, baggage processing, aircraft turnaround support, and operating or managing airport facilities such as lounges. The specific services and responsibilities vary by contract and location.
