Construction has begun on the oneworld alliance’s first lounge in Seoul, South Korea, signaling a potential shift from its previously planned location in Moscow. The lounge, set to open in January 2023, will be located at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport in Terminal 1. The original plan for the first oneworld lounge was Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, but due to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the plans fell through. With many oneworld member airlines operating from Terminal 1, the lounge is expected to be welcomed by passengers. The alliance may also consider opening more lounges worldwide in the future.
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Construction is underway for the oneworld alliance’s first lounge in Seoul, South Korea, signaling a potential shift in their original plans. The lounge was initially intended to be located at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, but those plans fell through due to the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new lounge in Seoul will be a welcome addition for passengers, as many oneworld member airlines operate from Terminal 1.
Compared to other airline alliances like Star Alliance and SkyTeam, oneworld has been lagging behind in having its own branded airport lounges worldwide. However, this could change with the construction of their first lounge in Seoul. The rumored opening date for the lounge is January next year.
Originally, the alliance had announced that their first alliance-wide lounge would be opened in Moscow. This made sense as S7 Airlines, a member of oneworld, operated numerous daily flights from Domodedovo Airport. However, due to the pandemic and geopolitical shifts, plans had to be rerouted, and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport was chosen as the new location. The lounge will be located in Terminal 1, taking over the space previously occupied by the Jeju Air lounge.
The construction of the lounge in Seoul suggests that it may open before the end of this year. If the alliance stays true to their commitment of providing world-class service, the oneworld lounge in Incheon Airport is expected to compete with the lounges offered by other alliances like SkyTeam and Star Alliance. Many oneworld member airlines operate from Terminal 1 in Incheon Airport, making the lounge a valuable addition for passengers traveling with these carriers.
With the construction of their first lounge underway, the oneworld alliance may refocus on their goal of opening up to 10 alliance-wide lounges worldwide. The future locations remain speculative for now. The oneworld alliance includes airlines such as Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, and others.
The lounge in Seoul shows a shift from the alliance’s previous plans for a lounge in Moscow. Incheon Airport is a strategic choice due to the presence of multiple oneworld member airlines operating from Terminal 1. The opening date of the lounge is yet to be announced, but the construction progress suggests it may be opened before the end of this year.