Three budget airlines to become one

Three high-profile low-cost air carriers in South Korea will soon be just one. 

Jin Air, Air Busan and Air Seoul will merge into a single airline, news hub Travel Mole reports. 

The trio will become a single entity on March 17, 2027, creating the country’s largest budget carrier.

The airlines’ boards approved the merger agreement this month but the deal still requires shareholder approval in December and regulatory clearances before the new airline can begin operating.

The combined carrier will operate under the Jin Air name, while the Air Busan and Air Seoul brands will disappear.

The merger follows the planned integration of parent companies Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. 

Korean Air is scheduled to complete its merger with Asiana on December 17, 2026. 

The three low-cost airlines had a combined fleet of 58 aircraft at the end of 2025. That would put the new carrier ahead of T’way Air and Jeju Air by fleet size, making it South Korea’s biggest LCC.

Jin Air plans to combine the three airlines’ fleets, routes, maintenance operations and other resources to generate economies of scale. 

Radisson has a new focus with its latest Sydney hotel

 

Sydney is get another luxury lifestyle hotel, but this one will be in the Haymarket district, close to Central Station. 

Radisson Hotel Group this week announced the signing of Radisson RED Sydney Haymarket, a 328-room, new-build hotel set to open in 2029. 

The 31-storey hotel will be positioned in the heart of Haymarket granting easy access the Sydney Light Rail, Chinatown and Darling Harbour. 

 “The signing of Australia’s first Radisson RED marks an important milestone in our Australasia expansion plan," said Elie Younes, executive vice president and global chief development officer (whew!) for the Radisson Hotel Group. 

"Radisson RED is a distinctive brand that offers a relevant and impactful proposition to both guests and owners. We are excited to partner with Ceerose on this project and are grateful for their trust in our brands and people.”

Radisson RED Sydney Haymarket will feature those 328 rooms, a restaurant, a lobby café-bar, a pool bar, meeting rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness centre. 

The hotel will also include a dedicated early- and late-check-out lounge for guests. 

Edward Doueihi, founder and managing director of developers Ceerose, said: “Radisson RED Sydney Haymarket has been conceived as a destination that reflects the energy and transformation taking place across this part of Sydney."

See https://www.radissonhotels.com/

Why now might be a good time to book a Qantas flight

This week is the perfect time for Qantas Frequent Flyers to book a trip to more than 100 destinations across the airline's global network.

All booking made until midnight on September 2 will result in a fast-track to status or a points boost with the return of the Double Status Credits or Double Points offer.

Members who book any Qantas marketed and operated regional, domestic, or international flight can earn either double status credits or Qantas points.

Members can also earn double points on Qantas hotel and holiday booking.

Frequent flyers can register for the offer via the Qantas App and make unlimited flight bookings for travel between September 3, 2026, and August 14, 2027.

Qantas Loyalty and Customer CEO Andrew Glance said the offer remains a favourite for members.

"Whether members want to fast-track their status to unlock lounge access, or boost their points balance for a dream holiday, this offer gives them the ultimate choice as they plan their travel for the months ahead," he said.

Bonus status credits earned through the offer will also count towards lifetime tier balances.

Hollywood star Hemsworth makes a spirited move

Actor and film producer Chris Hemsworth is now a co-owner of leading Australian spirits producer Archie Rose.

The former Home and Away and Thor actor has joined Archie Rose founder Will Edwards and his family with a shared ambition to take Australian whisky to the world.

Later this year, Archie Rose will launch three bespoke whiskies co-created with Hemsworth and made using 100% Australian-grown malts.

The range will launch nationally and, for the first time, in the United States, followed by Asia and New Zealand, before expanding into the UK and Europe in 2027.

As the largest independent distillery in the southern hemisphere, multiple award winner Archie Rose is aiming to put Australian whisky firmly on the global stage.

Founded in Sydney in 2014, Archie Rose has built an international reputation and Hemsworth has been a long-time admirer of the brand.

"I’ve been a fan of Archie Rose for a long time,” the Melbourne-born actor says.

“Wherever I am in the world, tasting an Archie Rose whisky immediately transports me right back home, to that feeling of sitting around a campfire in the Australian bush with my mates.

"Their ethos of only using Australian grown malts to produce flavour packed whiskies at their Sydney distillery is truly awesome. They’re a brilliant example of what Australia does best and I can’t wait to share that with the world.”

Edwards is delighted by the new investor.

"Our approach has always been about championing local ingredients to create spirits that taste truly Australian," he says.

"Having Chris join the business as a co-owner allows us to bring that ambition to the world. We aren't just making spirits; we are using Australia’s raw materials and ingenuity as the base for producing the world’s best whisky, gin and other spirits, telling the stories of the growers and the land beneath them."

For more info see archierose.com.au

Ciao! to a new Italian-style soft drink range

Tired of ultra-sweet, unhealthy soft drinks? 

Sanpellegrino, the Italian sparkling beverage brand, might have something of interest. 

It is launching Sanpellegrino CIAO! in Australia, in three flavours, lime, blood orange and peach, combining fruit juice and no added sugar in a low-calorie, Italian-inspired format.

 
Promoted as being ideal for lunches, picnics, and casual entertaining, the new range is aimed at health conscious consumers looking to shift away from sugary beverages.

Here's the blurb: CIAO! is inspired by Sicilian summer traditions which began with combining sparkling water, fruit juice, and a pinch of salt. 

The range is designed to be enjoyed chilled, or poured over ice, and is available in a 330ml four-pack from $9.50. It might also work added to gin, or vodka. 

It will be available through select retailers now, and at national stores from August 31. 

Damian Giorgini, the Sanpellegrino marketing manager, talks the talk. 

“CIAO! is more than a greeting; it’s an invitation to connect and celebrate. We wanted to bring Australians that feeling with bright fruit flavours, bubbles, and Sicilian flair. It's a drink made for sharing, embracing the lighter side of life, and adding a little Italian sunshine to your day.”

I'm trying the range now and will report back on my favourite. 

See www.sanpellegrino.com/au.

Western Sydney to get major new hotel

South-western Sydney is booming with the imminent opening of the city's new international airport. 

The new Atura Oran Park hotel will tap into that when it opens 20 minutes away from Western Sydney International Airport in October. 

Oran Park is in one of Australia's fastest-growing communities and the Atura is being developed in partnership between the Perich family and EVT Hotels & Resorts, which will operate the 184-room hotel on the site of the former Oran Park Raceway.

An Italian-inspired restaurant and bar (below) will anchor the hotel's social offering, while a resort-style pool and terrace will aim to invite guests to slow down and linger. 

Oran Park is forecast to expand to more than 50,000 residents over the coming decades, while Western

Sydney International Airport will welcome millions of passengers annually.

Already established in Blacktown, Albury, Dandenong and Adelaide Airport, Atura Oran Park will mark the brand's fifth Australian location. 

Shannon Craig, Area General Manager of Atura Oran Park, said the opening represented an exciting new chapter for both the hotel and the wider region. 

“We’re opening at a time when south western Sydney is experiencing extraordinary growth and momentum, and being the closest hotel to the new Western Sydney International Airport puts us in a commanding position to support travellers in and out of Sydney,” she said.

“Together with the Perich family, we’ve designed a hotel that feels open, vibrant and full of energy, with beautiful communal spaces, generous outdoor areas and places where people naturally want to spend time. 

"The accommodation has been equally considered, with a mix of room categories catering to everything including both overnight visits and extended stays. It's contemporary and welcoming, with a design language that draws on the region's motorsport ties and the Perich family’s heritage, creating a strong sense of place and connection to the neighbourhood that sits at the very heart of Atura."

Atura Oran Park will be at 135 Podium Way, Oran Park, NSW, 2570. See aturahotels.com