The oneworld Alliance is further expanding its footprint at London Heathrow Airport as Alaska Airlines prepares to launch its new nonstop service between Seattle and London on Friday, 22 May 2026. The new route will increase the alliance's presence at Heathrow to 14 member airlines, strengthening the airport's position as oneworld's most connected global hub.

During the summer schedule, oneworld carriers are expected to operate nearly 2,800 weekly departures from Heathrow, linking passengers directly to more than 160 destinations across over 60 countries. The airport continues to play a major role in the alliance's global network, offering extensive international connectivity and travel options.

Passengers travelling through Heathrow also have access to premium facilities, including 13 First and Business Class lounges across Terminals 3, 4 and 5. These lounges are operated by British Airways, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Qatar Airways, adding to the overall travel experience for premium flyers.

London continues to be a key stop for global travellers. According to oneworld data, 71 percent of Round the World bookings made this year through oneworld.com include London in their travel plans. The alliance also revealed that nearly 29 million customers travelled from, to or through Heathrow last year, with almost 30 percent connecting between oneworld member airlines.

Ole Orvér, CEO of oneworld, said: "With service from the most oneworld carriers and nearly 400 daily departures, London Heathrow is a cornerstone of our global network, where our members work together to deliver smooth connectivity for millions of customers every year."

"It is also one of the world's leading business travel markets, with more than 160,000 premium seats offered weekly by our airlines, and we are delighted to welcome Alaska Airlines as it launches its inaugural Seattle service from Heathrow, further expanding travel choices for oneworld customers."

Speaking on the expansion, Brett Catlin, Vice President of Loyalty, Partnerships and International at Alaska Airlines, said: "As we launch service to London, we're proud to further strengthen the value of our oneworld membership for guests."

"As one of the world's most important international gateways, London opens up even more seamless options for our guests to connect onward across Europe and beyond through the oneworld alliance."

Ross Baker, Heathrow's Chief Customer Officer, added: "At Heathrow, we are proud to be the UK's gateway to the world and the most served global hub for the oneworld alliance."

"The arrival of Alaska Airlines' new Seattle service brings even more option for travellers, whether they're visiting friends and family or travelling for business."

At Heathrow, oneworld member airlines operate across different terminals. Terminal 3 hosts Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan Airlines, Qantas, Royal Jordanian and SriLankan Airlines. Terminal 4 includes Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Royal Air Maroc, while Terminal 5 serves British Airways and Iberia.

Apart from Heathrow, the alliance's next biggest hubs with 11 member airlines include Dallas/Fort Worth, Doha, Tokyo-Narita and New York's John F. Kennedy airports.

Sydney has once again transformed into a bright and colourful celebration as Vivid Sydney officially begins its 16th edition. The city's harbour and CBD have come alive with immersive displays and experiences, marking the start of one of Australia's most anticipated annual events.

Running from Friday 22 May to Saturday 13 June, Vivid Sydney 2026 will host more than 200 events across 23 nights, offering visitors and residents a chance to explore the city in a completely different way. This year introduces a fresh approach, as artists and creators were given complete creative freedom without a central festival theme guiding their work.

The result is a wider mix of experiences spread across Light, Minds, Music, and Food programs. Organisers say the move is designed to encourage more creativity and deliver unique experiences throughout the festival.

This year's lineup includes over 80% free events during both daytime and evening hours. Visitors can also enjoy a shorter 6.5-kilometre Vivid Light Walk featuring 43 installations, projections, and large public artworks. Another major attraction returning this year is the much-awaited drone show, which will take place over Cockle Bay across 22 performances.

Food lovers can head to the relocated Vivid Fire Kitchen, now set in Barangaroo Reserve and featuring a strong lineup of culinary talent. Meanwhile, Vivid Minds, formerly known as Ideas, returns with conversations and performances featuring renowned creative voices from around the world.

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said, "This year marks the start of an exciting evolution of Vivid Sydney. We've expanded the program across all pillars and have opened up the brief for artists and removed the creative limitations of needing to centre around one key theme.

"Visitors can expect a more immersive and interactive experience that will encourage them to explore new locations, unexpected installations, and spend more time enjoying the festival, both after dark and during the day.

"We've gone back to the core of what Vivid Sydney is all about which is tapping into creativity, and through this, there's this incredible platform to showcase leading Australian talent as well as a chance to bring legendary international talent to the Sydney landscape too."

Several major brands have joined the festival this year. Kia and Samsung Electronics Australia return as major partners for their fifth year. Kia will showcase "Kia Refraction" at Bligh & Barney Reserve, while Samsung presents the interactive "Sky Portal Studio" at First Fleet Park.

New major partner IREN will support the "Star-Bound: Vivid Sydney Drone Show." Official partners for 2026 include Lilly Australia, which will present a Vivid Minds panel titled A New Horizon of Health, and Uber, which will provide dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones. Uber Eats will also support the Food for Thought Stage at Vivid Fire Kitchen.

Foodbank NSW & ACT joins as the festival's charity partner and will feature an interactive installation called "Foodbank Truck Packer" at Tumbalong Park.

With a mix of art, culture, food, technology and entertainment, Vivid Sydney 2026 promises another memorable edition that turns the city into a vibrant canvas of creativity.

Mumbai-based cocktail bar Late Checkout has announced a landmark Southeast Asia tour, becoming one of the first independent Indian bars to take its cocktail identity across multiple countries through a structured multi-city takeover format.

Just over a year after opening in Mumbai, Late Checkout has already built a strong international footprint through collaborations with well-known global bars such as Paradiso Barcelona, Line Athens, Tayēr + Elementary London, and Sago House Singapore. The bar has also hosted guest shifts in New York at venues like Dear Irving and The Ned Nomad, steadily building its presence in the global cocktail community.

Now, the team is stepping into a larger international circuit with a Southeast Asia tour spanning 10 bars across 9 countries. The upcoming journey will include guest shifts and takeovers at some of the region’s most recognised cocktail destinations over the next few months.

The tour begins at Origin Bar, Singapore from May 11 to 14, followed by The Curator in Manila from May 14 to 17. The Japan leg includes Craftroom Osaka from May 22 to 24 and Bar Wakabayashi, Tokyo from May 25 to 27.

The circuit then moves to Hong Kong with takeovers at The Opposites and Peninsula from June 8 to 11, followed by Shoulders in Colombo on June 19. From June 24 to 27, the team will simultaneously collaborate with Southside Parlor in Seoul and Firefly in Bangkok. The tour will conclude its current run at Ne Cocktail Bar in Hanoi on July 19, with additional collaborations in Malaysia and Indonesia currently under discussion.

Several of the participating venues are globally recognised names in the cocktail industry, including Origin Bar Singapore, which is ranked No. 32 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024.

This initiative reflects a growing shift in the global cocktail landscape, where Indian bars are no longer just participants but active contributors shaping modern bar culture across regions.

Speaking about the tour, Pawan Shahri, Co-Founder of Chrome Asia Hospitality, said, “For the longest time, India consumed global cocktail culture. Today, we’re contributing to it. This tour is about taking the energy, creativity and identity of modern Indian bartending across Asia and showing the world that Indian bars are no longer emerging players, they are part of the global conversation. To collaborate with some of the region’s most respected bars across nine countries is not just a milestone for Late Checkout, but a moment of representation for Indian hospitality itself.”

Nikita Harisinghani, Co-Founder of Chrome Asia Hospitality, added, “When we started Late Checkout, we wanted to build a bar that could stand alongside some of the best programmes in the world while still feeling distinctly rooted in India. To be taking the bar across Asia within a year of opening feels incredibly exciting, but more importantly, it feels like a sign of where Indian cocktail culture is headed.”

In recent years, Indian bars have gained stronger international visibility through collaborations, guest shifts, and global recognition. Late Checkout’s Asia tour reflects this growing confidence, positioning Indian cocktail culture as an active and equal voice in the global hospitality scene.