Asiana Airlines leaves Star Alliance | News
Asiana Airlines, headquartered in Seoul, will formally leave Star Alliance on December 16, 2026, 11:59 PM Korean Standard Time.
Since joining Star Alliance in 2003, Asiana Airlines has played a valued role in delivering seamless customer experiences across the network. On behalf of all member airlines, Star Alliance would like to thank Asiana Airlines and its employees for contributing to the exceptional customer experience for which the Alliance is known worldwide.
Star Alliance and Asiana Airlines will work closely to ensure a seamless and coordinated experience for customers leading up to the airline’s departure from the Alliance. Customers enrolled in a Star Alliance member airline’s frequent flyer program can continue to earn Miles on Asiana Airlines-operated flights departing on or before October 15, 2026. Customers can also continue to redeem Miles for Star Alliance award tickets and upgrades on Asiana Airlines for travel completed on or before December 16, 2026, subject to the redemption policies and timelines of their respective frequent flyer program. Customers are encouraged to consult their respective frequent flyer program for more information. Additionally, Star Alliance Gold and Silver status customers can continue to enjoy alliance status benefits, including priority services, when traveling with Asiana Airlines until December 16, 2026. Star Alliance Gold customers can also continue to enjoy lounge access, including eligible Asiana Airlines lounges when traveling on the Star Alliance network.
Following the departure of Asiana Airlines from Star Alliance, 14 Star Alliance member airlines will continue to operate to and from Incheon International Airport, including Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, EVA Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, SWISS, Singapore Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines and United. Today, these member airlines operate more than 1,900 direct flights every month from Incheon International Airport to 29 destinations worldwide.
Effective December 17, 2026, Star Alliance will consist of 25 member airlines, continuing to make international multi-airline travel effortless for customers.
Lufthansa Group has prepared for this transition early to ensure continuity for customers, including re-securing existing tickets from September 2026 on Korean Air.
At the same time, Lufthansa Group is adapting its market approach in Korea. With the vast majority of our passengers traveling to Seoul as their final destination, the focus is on maintaining a strong and attractive offering through a combination of air and ground connectivity, including continued access to lounges at Incheon Airport and enhanced domestic connections within Korea. This has led to deepening our partnership with Jeju Air and building an intermodal partnership with South Korea’s national railway, Korail.
