Korean Air Opens Stunning New Lounges at Incheon with Live Chef Stations

Korean Air is in the middle of one of the most ambitious overhauls in its history, transforming its lounges, cabins, and brand identity in a sweeping program that will reshape the carrier’s image ahead of its planned integration with Asiana Airlines.

From redesigned premium lounges at its Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN) hub to an entirely new “Premium Class” cabin, the flag carrier is making a calculated bid to elevate every stage of the passenger journey.

New Incheon Lounge Opens

On August 18, Korean Air will open to the public its redesigned Miler Club and Prestige East (Right) Lounge at Incheon, marking the completion of the first phase of a multi-year lounge renewal program.

These lounges now feature hotel-style lobbies, wellness areas, meeting spaces, and “Live Stations” where chefs from the Grand Hyatt Incheon prepare dishes to order—a massive upgrade to the airline’s current lounge offerings.

Photo: Miler Club Lounge Live Station. Courtesy of Korean Air

Western fare includes hand-tossed pizzas, croissants, and chef-carved beef steak, while Korean specialties range from gimbap made with premium ingredients to tteokguk and janchi guksu.

According to the airline, menus will rotate quarterly to highlight seasonal produce. In the Miler Club, an in-house barista serves fresh coffee alongside a dedicated cocktail bar.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

The design, created in collaboration with a global interior firm known for luxury hotels such as the Four Seasons Seoul, blends traditional Korean architecture with modern materials. Hanok-inspired structures are paired with marble, warm lighting, and a color scheme of gold, charcoal, black, and ivory that echoes the airline’s premium cabins.

Photo: Prestige Garden Lounge. Courtesy of Korean Air

Two new Prestige Garden Lounges—one overlooking a traditional Korean garden, the other a contemporary Western garden—offer quieter retreats at opposite ends of the terminal.

By 2026, the airline’s lounge footprint at Incheon will more than double from 5,105 to 12,270 square meters, with seating capacity increasing from 898 to 1,566.

Photo: Prestige East (Right) Lounge. Courtesy of Korean Air

The airline has announced a timeline for new lounge openings. In January 2026, a redesigned lounge will open at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Following that, in April 2026, Incheon International Airport will debut a new First Class Lounge as well as additional Prestige Lounges. Finally, in June 2026, a new lounge will be established at JFK Terminal 1 in New York.

This expansion is timed to meet demand from the merged Korean Air–Asiana Airlines passenger base.

A Brand Reimagined

The physical upgrades come in parallel with the carrier’s first major rebrand in over 40 years. In March, Korean Air introduced a refreshed corporate identity, anchored by a deeper shade of blue in its iconic Taegeuk symbol. Chief Marketing Officer Kenneth Chang said the redesign was inspired by the swirling ribbons of Korea’s traditional Sangmo dance, symbolizing both heritage and forward motion.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

“As a unified Korean Air, we aspire to transcend transportation by forging connections between people, cultures, and the world above us,” Chairman and CEO Walter Cho said at the unveiling event.

The rebrand extends to the onboard experience. Collaborating with Chef Seakyeong Kim of Seoul’s Cesta restaurant, Korean Air has overhauled its menus across all cabins, introducing dishes such as octopus nurungji rice, abalone rice, and beef brisket bibimbap in premium cabins, and new bibimbap variations in economy.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

Tableware has been upgraded to Bernardaud china and Christofle cutlery in First Class, Armani/Casa dishware in business, and premium glassware across both. Bedding in the top cabins will feature Italian-made Frette linens and an innovative Air Coil mattress, as well as Graff amenity kits.

Premium Class: Bridging the Gap

In September, Korean Air will debut its long-anticipated “Premium Class” on retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, a $220 million investment covering 11 planes. The new cabin aims to capture travelers seeking more comfort than economy without the cost of business class.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

Configured in a 2-4-2 layout, Premium Class offers 40 seats with 39–41 inches of pitch—about 50 percent more legroom than economy—plus wider seats, 15.6-inch 4K entertainment screens, and enhanced recline with leg rests.

Passengers will be served meals from the Prestige Class menu, plated on Armani/Casa tableware, and will enjoy wines, teas, and coffees curated for business class. On the ground, Premium Class includes access to priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

The 777 retrofits will also introduce the new Prestige Suites 2.0 in business class and updated economy cabins, signaling a fleetwide shift toward more private, spacious seating.

Strategic Timing

The pace and breadth of these upgrades suggest a calculated move to strengthen Korean Air’s competitive edge before its merger with Asiana is complete. Expanded lounges, new cabins, and a refined brand image are designed to absorb the combined carrier’s traffic while elevating its profile in the premium travel market.

Photo: Courtesy of Korean Air

By 2026, passengers flying Korean Air will encounter a carrier that not only looks different, but feels different—from the first step into the lounge to the final meal tray on board.