Korean Air has sure kept me busy this week in terms of writing about them. The Korean flag carrier raised some eyebrows and turned some heads last week when it dropped its new brand identity and, most of all, its new aircraft livery. I'll let you judge and go through my thoughts in this other post, as in this post we've got some other Korean Air news to talk about. New lounges and travel classes are on the radar and here's how it will all unwind.
Korean Air Lounges Changing in Seoul Incheon and Worldwide
If you don't breathe aviation news or don't have Jet-A fuel running through their veins let me bring you up to speed on what has been going on with Korean Air. The airline has just recently taken over Asiana Airlines.
Asiana is the second largest legacy carrier in Korea and Korean Air's only true competitor on both passenger and cargo operations. After taking over Asiana from Kumho, Korean Air has presented a new brand identity and aircraft livery.
However, changes haven't ended with that. The Korean carrier has just announced some major changes which will involve its assets at its main hub in Seoul Incheon International airport along with others at key overseas strategic airports.
Zeroing in on Seoul Incheon International Airport, the airline is looking to open, renovate and expand First and Business class dedicated lounges.
Specifically Korean Air has started immediately work on its Prestige Class (Business Class) Lounge in the east wing of Terminal 2. The work will have the lounge double its floorspace. Also, the airline's Miler Club lounge will also expand.
Additionally, two new lounges named “Prestige Class Garden Lounges” are in the process of being built at the airport's phase 4 newly constructed infrastructure. These four lounges I've mentioned so far will undergo maintenance and will open in phases starting August 2025.
Finally, work will also involve the airline's first-class and Prestige lounges situated at the terminal 2's west wing. They are both scheduled to reopen in April 2026.
Shifiting focus away from the Seoul Incheon hub, Korean Air will also renovate its overseas lounges at:
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- New York (JFK)
Once all the work is complete, Korean Air will run and operate a total of 6 lounges at Seoul Incheon's Terminal 2 increasing overall offered space by a factor of 2.5. Let me explain why in the next section.
Asiana Airlines Ready to Relocate Within Seoul Incheon
Korean Air will need that extra space and seating as it will gradually have to also accomodate Asiana Airlines passengers in its facilities.
Asiana is to soon relocate all operations from Terminal 1, the non-SkyTeam terminal at Seoul Incheon, to Terminal 2 to join its new parent company and consolidate operations across the group.
The relocation to Terminal 2 will allow seamless transits for passengers connecting between Asiana and Korean Air flights. However, it will only be transitory as eventually the airlines will merge under a sole identity for all operations.
Premium Economy Soon Making an Entrance on KE Flights
The last change involves a change to the airline's fleet and aircraft. Korean Air will be introducing, for the first time Premium Economy. The Korean carrier is a little late to jump on the Premium economy wagon but must now see opportunity it didn't see before.
The carrier will start introducing Premium Economy cabins on part of its Boeing 777-300ER fleet. It will get the ball rolling by retrofitting the new travel class on 11 of its triple-seven aircraft. Space to accomodate the new Premium Economy will come from the airline removing its First-Class cabins on the retrofitted planes. The first of the Korean Air retrofitted Boeing 777s will re-enter service in the latter stages of 2025.
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