T'way Air Becomes Trinity Airways: South Korea's Budget Carrier Renames Itself After the Sono Acquisition

South Korea's budget carrier T'way Air has rebranded as Trinity Airways following its acquisition by leisure conglomerate Sono Trinity Group, the company announced in Seoul on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. It is the airline's first name change in 16 years.

From a 46 percent stake to a new brand

The ownership change that set the rebranding in motion was agreed in February 2025, when Sono Trinity acquired a 46 percent stake in T'way Air for 250 billion won ($176.4 million), becoming the airline's largest shareholder. The buyer itself was reshaped along the way: in May, the group was renamed from Daemyung Sono Group to Sono Trinity.

How the rebranding was approved

The name change followed a two-step approval process:

1. approval at a shareholders meeting in March;
2. subsequent approval from South Korean aviation authorities.

With both approvals in place, the airline confirmed the completed rebranding in early August - closing 16 years of operations under the T'way Air name.

What Trinity Airways promises passengers

The airline said it will offer more customized services under the new brand. Two commitments were announced together with the rebranding:

• upgraded in-flight services;
• a new mileage program linked to the group's travel and hospitality businesses.

The loyalty scheme builds on the parent company's asset base. Sono Trinity operates hotels and resorts at around 20 locations in South Korea and another 20 overseas, giving the airline a ready partner network for its mileage program.

58 international routes under the new name

The rebranded carrier operates an extensive international network. The current route map breaks down as follows:

• 30 routes to Southeast and Northeast Asia;
• 18 destinations in Japan;
• five cities in Europe;
• three routes for Russia and Central Asia;
• one route each to the Americas and Oceania.

In total, that makes 58 international routes. Japan accounts for nearly a third of the network with 18 destinations - the largest single country market of the airline - while the long-haul geography is represented by just two routes: one to the Americas and one to Oceania.

Why the rebrand matters

For Sono Trinity, the name change integrates the airline more tightly into a group whose core business is leisure, with some 40 hotel and resort locations at home and abroad. For the carrier, the first rebrand in 16 years signals a shift from a standalone budget model toward an ecosystem in which flights, hotels and loyalty rewards are designed to be sold as one product.