oneworld Seoul Incheon lounge retains title at World Travel Awards

The oneworld alliance’s branded lounge at Seoul Incheon International Airport has secured the award for Asia’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class at the 2026 World Travel Awards. This marks the second year running that the facility has received the recognition, which is based on voting by travel professionals and passengers.

Opened in January 2024, the 555-square-meter facility is the alliance’s first proprietary lounge. It is operated by Aspire Pre-Flight Hospitality, a division of Swissport International, and hosts approximately 150,000 visitors annually. The space is accessible to eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members, as well as First and Business class passengers flying with the seven member airlines currently serving Seoul Incheon.

As airline alliances move toward more integrated ground service models, proprietary lounges are becoming a key competitive differentiator. Gerhard Girkinger, VP of Customer Experience and Airports at oneworld, stated that the consistent award reflects the alliance’s focus on high-quality service and attention to detail, citing local design influences such as traditional Korean art and seasonal catering as core components of the guest experience.