ANA to Expand Haneda Airport Domestic Lounges by 2027 to Accommodate SFC Members

Haneda Airport Terminal 2 Expansion Targeted for Fiscal 2027

All Nippon Airways will expand the domestic lounge at Terminal 2 of Haneda Airport during fiscal 2027. The project aims to address chronic overcrowding among elite frequent flyers.

The airline announced the infrastructure project alongside structural revisions to its upper-tier membership tiers. ANA revealed that lounge traffic has surged significantly above pre-pandemic levels.

Data released by the carrier shows its ANA Super Flyers Card member base has grown to roughly 1.5 times its 2019 level. Projections indicate membership will reach 1.2 times the current baseline by 2030 and 1.4 times by 2035.

Construction will begin early in fiscal 2027. The upgraded facility is slated to open before the fiscal year concludes.

Overhaul of Capacity Management and SFC LITE Tier Rules

Alongside physical expansions at Haneda and other primary domestic airports, ANA is overhauling its facility capacity management systems.

The changes tie into a revamped SFC program scheduled to launch in April 2028. Under the upcoming rules, members qualifying for the newly created SFC LITE tier—determined by an annual spending threshold under 3 million yen—will gain access to domestic ANA lounges during off-peak hours.

To manage capacity, ANA plans to implement a pre-booking system for lounge access. The airline stated that advance reservations will allow operators to gauge exact user counts and curb congestion.

Passengers arriving without a reservation face tighter restrictions. SFC LITE members will be admitted only if the lounge can guarantee a smooth and certain seating arrangement upon entry. Access will be denied entirely during peak crowding.

Public Skepticism and Social Media Pushback Over Rules

The exact thresholds defining lounge congestion remain unspecified, prompting public skepticism.

Social media users have questioned how strictly the congestion criteria will be enforced. They also queried how frequently LITE members will realistically secure entry under the new rules.

Policy Revisions and Alliance-Wide Privilege Reductions

ANA adjusted its initial stance following pushback from members.

When the carrier first unveiled its SFC overhaul proposal in April, it planned to bar SFC LITE members from lounges entirely. The September 29 announcement modified that position by permitting conditional access. The update maintained the core 3 million yen annual spending dividing line between SFC LITE and SFC PLUS tiers.

The restructuring also affects alliance-wide privileges. SFC LITE members will see their Star Alliance status drop from Gold to Silver.

Star Alliance Gold status grants access to partner carrier lounges globally. Star Alliance Silver status does not carry that benefit.