T’way Air, a low-cost carrier founded in 2010, will be reborn as “Trinity Air” after 16 years, aiming to raise brand value by combining air travel with lodging and travel services in a “three-in-one” offering.
According to industry officials on Tuesday, the airline plans a full rebrand starting around September, applying the new name to aircraft liveries, airport check-in counters, and its booking and ticketing systems. The carrier traces its roots to Hansung Airlines, launched in 2004, and changed its name to T’way Air in 2010. It has held the No. 2 spot among South Korea’s low-cost carriers, behind Jeju Air, for about 16 years.
Industry data show T’way Air’s total passenger count topped 11 million last year, up about 10% from roughly 9.9 million in 2023 and 5% from about 10.5 million in 2024. As routes expanded to Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, Central Asia and Oceania, the number of scheduled routes rose 26%, from 50 in 2023 to 63 as of February this year.
The new name, “TRINITY,” comes from the Latin “Trinitas,” meaning a trinity. The airline said it reflects a plan to go beyond flights by combining lodging and travel to upgrade the customer experience.
T’way Air was acquired by Daemyung Sono Group in February last year, and the company plans to use the new name as a starting point to generate synergies. Trinity Air plans to strengthen those ties by linking routes spanning Asia, Europe and the Americas with hotel and resort infrastructure to offer differentiated package products.
The airline is also moving to build systems to improve service as it expands long-haul routes to North America and Europe. It said long-haul passengers tend to spend more time at airports and have higher expectations for rest areas, refreshments and baggage-related services. While a single-seat structure centered on low-cost operations has limited value-added revenue, long-haul routes allow lounge operations and more varied seating, supporting both diversified profitability and a better customer experience.
A lounge service is expected to be an early step. The airline is reviewing a plan to lease an existing Asiana Airlines lounge in Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 1 and use it as a dedicated lounge, and it has submitted a letter of intent to Korea Airports Corp. It also opened a new “Premium Check-in” Counter A in Terminal 1 for business-class passengers and T’way Plus Platinum members.
The company said it plans additional measures to provide a more integrated travel experience, consistent with the new brand concept. “Trinity Air is the starting point signaling a new leap forward for the company,” a T’way Air official said. “Based on customer safety and sustainability, we will open new possibilities in the aviation industry.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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