Asiana Airlines Leaves Star Alliance on December 16, 2026: What It Means for Your Aeroplan Points
Loading article…
After 23 years in Star Alliance, Asiana Airlines is closing the chapter. The South Korean carrier will leave the global alliance on December 16, 2026, the day before its final merger with Korean Air. For Canadian travellers who use their Aeroplan points on this airline, two dates matter right now.
What is happening exactly
The merger between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines is the end of a process started in 2020. Both airlines’ boards approved the merger agreement on May 13, 2026. The official closing date is set for December 17, 2026: on that day, Asiana will cease to exist as a separate entity and will be fully integrated into Korean Air.
Star Alliance confirmed Asiana’s exit the day before, on December 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Korea Standard Time). The alliance currently has 26 members; it will have 25 from December 17. Fourteen Star Alliance carriers will still operate out of Incheon International Airport in Seoul, with more than 1,900 monthly direct flights to 29 destinations worldwide.
Korean Air, for its part, is a founding member of SkyTeam, the rival alliance. It has no points transfer partnership with Aeroplan.
Two key dates
Star Alliance and Asiana published a detailed transition timeline. Here is what it means in practice for an Aeroplan member.
October 15, 2026: earning ends
You can keep earning Aeroplan points on flights operated by Asiana departing no later than October 15, 2026. Missing mileage claims will be accepted until October 31, 2026.
After October 15, Asiana flights will no longer earn Aeroplan points, even if the trip takes place before the alliance exit date.
December 16, 2026: book and travel
This is the pivotal date. You can book an Aeroplan award ticket on Asiana and fly it through December 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Seoul time), which is the morning of December 16 in Canada. After that moment, Asiana inventory disappears from Star Alliance booking engines.
Early press reports cited a December 1 booking cut-off. That date has been dropped: December 16 applies to both booking and travel. Aeroplan Elite status benefits (lounge access, boarding priority) on Asiana flights end the same day.
Your already-issued award tickets
This is the most sensitive point of the transition. Asiana stated that Star Alliance award tickets issued for travel scheduled after December 16, 2026 will not be honoured, even if they have already been confirmed and paid for in points.
The good news: points used for an affected ticket are reinstated with no fee or penalty, and taxes are refunded. If you hold an Aeroplan ticket on an Asiana flight scheduled after December 16, check your booking now and contact Aeroplan to confirm the refund terms that apply to your file.
Note: the 2027 exception in Asiana's notice applies only to Asiana Club members redeeming miles on Aegean, Avianca, Croatia Airlines or Turkish Airlines. For your Aeroplan points on an Asiana flight, December 16, 2026 remains the limit.
The impact for Canadians
Asiana operates routes from Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN) in business and economy class. These routes were accessible via Aeroplan at competitive rates, notably 75,000 Aeroplan points for a one-way business class ticket from North America to Seoul.
After December 16, 2026, these award tickets via Aeroplan on Asiana flights will no longer be available. Korean Air, which absorbs Asiana, is part of SkyTeam and is not an Aeroplan redemption partner.
To reach Seoul with Aeroplan points after December 2026, plenty of Star Alliance alternatives remain.
- Air Canada: direct flight from Vancouver (YVR) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN).
- ANA: connection via Tokyo (Haneda or Narita).
- Singapore Airlines: connection via Singapore for longer itineraries.
- EVA Air or Thai Airways: other Star Alliance gateways to East Asia.
These carriers remain Aeroplan redemption partners, unlike Korean Air.
Our recommendations
| Situation | Recommended action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| You want to earn points on Asiana | Book and travel before October 15, 2026 | Urgent |
| You want to redeem points for an Asiana flight | Book now for travel before December 16, 2026 | Urgent |
| You hold an Asiana award ticket after December 16 | Contact Aeroplan to confirm the refund of your points | As soon as possible |
| You are planning Seoul for 2027 or later | Explore Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines options via Aeroplan | Not urgent |
South Korean airline consolidation
This merger between the two main South Korean carriers creates a more powerful player on transpacific routes. For now, no partnership between Korean Air SKYPASS and Aeroplan has been announced. The situation is worth watching: a commercial collaboration between Air Canada and the enlarged Korean Air entity is not ruled out in the long run, but nothing supports that claim today.
On the Asiana Club side, miles move into Korean Air SKYPASS on December 17, 2026: 1:1 for flight-earned miles, 1:0.82 for miles earned through credit cards or partners, with 10 years to use them.
The Star Alliance network keeps expanding elsewhere in Asia: Air India is launching daily non-stop flights between Toronto and Delhi on its new 787-9s, bookable with your Aeroplan points.
Asiana and Star Alliance – Frequently asked questions
When exactly does Asiana Airlines leave Star Alliance?
On December 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Korea Standard Time. The next day, December 17, 2026, Asiana is officially absorbed by Korean Air.
Can I still earn Aeroplan points on Asiana flights?
Yes, but only on Asiana flights departing no later than October 15, 2026. After that date, Asiana flights no longer earn Aeroplan points.
Until when can I redeem my Aeroplan points on Asiana?
You can book and complete award travel on Asiana through December 16, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Seoul time). The December 1 date mentioned in early reports has been dropped: December 16 is the deadline for both booking and travel.
I have an Aeroplan ticket on Asiana for January 2027. What happens?
That ticket will not be honoured. Your points are reinstated and taxes refunded without penalty: contact Aeroplan to start the process.
Will I still be able to reach Seoul with my Aeroplan points?
Yes. Air Canada operates flights to Seoul-Incheon from Vancouver. Other Star Alliance partners (ANA, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa) also allow connections to South Korea through their hubs. Korean Air, which absorbs Asiana, is not an Aeroplan redemption partner.
Is my Aeroplan Elite status affected on Asiana flights?
Aeroplan Elite status benefits (lounge access, priority, etc.) on Asiana flights stay in effect until December 16, 2026. After that date, Asiana will no longer be a Star Alliance member.
Will Korean Air join Star Alliance after the merger?
No. Korean Air is a founding member of SkyTeam, the rival alliance to Star Alliance, and no alliance change has been announced. The entity resulting from the merger will stay in SkyTeam.
