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 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.”
David Collyer, Swissport International AG Global Vice President Executive Lounges, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with oneworld on our first joint lounge concept and are very pleased with the result.
“Leveraging our expertise as the go-to partner for airlines to outsource their complex hub and large base operations, Swissport and our ASPIRE team are committed to bringing the same standard of excellence to oneworld’s new lounge business.”
The new lounge is open daily between 7:30am and 11:45pm (apart from Monday and Saturday when it opens earlier at 4:30am), for eligible oneworld Emerald and Sapphire customers departing from Seoul on oneworld flights, as well as First and Business Class customers travelling with oneworld member airlines.
Behind the first oneworld dedicated lounge design.
Jochem Straatman, D/DOCK Art Director, said: “It was exciting to transform the highly dynamic but digital oneworld brand into a tangible and elegant and sophisticated 3D space for the first time.
“We have created an engaging lounge with its own distinct oneworld identity which has been designed as a vibrant integration of smart digital technologies to boost connectivity and fun.”
Tatiana Otani Nishi, D/DOCK Interior Designer, said: “Through careful design, with features reflecting its South Korean location we have delivered a modern and original premium lounge experience which makes travel feel easy, comfortable and enjoyable.”
Featuring the alliance’s bold Travel Bright branding presented in a sophisticated and welcoming way, the design cleverly incorporates subtle nods to South Korean culture, capturing the colourful Lantern Festival in mesmerising glass art and the ‘Gat’ hat in a welcoming bar, mixing traditional and contemporary aesthetics.
The lounge features a wide choice of distinct zones and spacious comfortable seating areas with relaxing, private or more sociable spaces in which customers can unwind, work or dine.
Customers can easily navigate their way through the lounge, to find a space to suit their mood, and discover the lounge’s signature ‘mood light’, changing its colour depending on the time of day.
Careful attention to detail, and the use of unexpected and bespoke materials throughout the new lounge, has created a new and exciting space in which oneworld customers can enjoy a new interpretation of luxury, with a futuristic twist.
Airline alliance members can continue to access more than 600 airport lounges around the world via their oneworld Priority Tier Benefits.
About oneworld
oneworld brings together 13 world-class airlines – Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines, and more than 20 of their affiliates. Fiji Airways is a oneworld connect partner. Oman Air is set to join the alliance as the 14th member airline in 2024. Member airlines work together to deliver consistently a superior, seamless travel experience, with special privileges and rewards for frequent flyers, including earning and redeeming miles and points across the entire alliance network. Top-tier cardholders (Emerald and Sapphire) enjoy access to airport lounges and are offered extra baggage allowances. The most regular travellers (Emerald) can also use fast track security lanes at select airports.
About Swissport
In 2022, Swissport International AG provided best-in-class airport ground services for some 186 million airline passengers (2021: 97 million) and handled roughly 4.8 million tons of air freight (2021: 5.1 million) at 117 air cargo centers worldwide. Several of its warehouses have been certified for pharmaceutical logistics by IATA’s CEIV Pharma and by the British MHRA. At the end of June 2023, the world’s leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, with currently around 57,000 employees, was active at 294 airports in 44 countries on six continents.
About ASPIRE
With more than 30 years of experience, ASPIRE is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023 more than 4 million customers worldwide were welcomed in over 64 ASPIRE lounges in 13 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened a new lounge at Toronto City Airport in Canada
All images credited to oneworld
