The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
May 10
SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, will launch flights to Liverpool Airport (LPL), England, from Antalya, Türkiye, in summer 2025. Service will start on April 6, operating three times per week. “Antalya remains a popular destination from Liverpool and a route with significant scope to grow when comparing capacity to other UK airports,” says Paul Winfield, LPL aviation director. SunExpress is currently operating 136 flights per week to nine airports in the UK during summer 2024, flying to Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Newcastle and London Stansted.
Cebu Pacific is launching a new route to Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Starting July 16, the LCC will fly between Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and DMK three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The launch of direct flights to DMK further increases the airline’s flight frequencies between Manila and Bangkok to 17X-weekly. Currently, Cebu Pacific flies between Manila and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport twice a day.
The Port of Oakland’s board of commissioners unanimously voted to give final approval to renaming Metropolitan Oakland International Airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, saying it “aims to attract more nonstop destinations by boosting travelers' geographic awareness of the airport’s location on the San Francisco Bay.” The board went forward even after the city of San Francisco filed a lawsuit to stop the rebranding, citing federal trademark infringement on San Francisco International Airport. The airport’s OAK code will remain unchanged.
RwandAir has increased service between Kigali and London Heathrow from 4X-weekly to daily. All flights are operated using Airbus A330 aircraft. Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, says: “We have seen impressive growth in our north-south traffic, especially with our London Heathrow route. We are incredibly proud that our long-held plan for daily flights is finally underway.”
May 9
Indigo Partners-backed carriers Frontier Airlines and Volaris are resuming codeshare operations. Passengers will be able to book travel between the U.S. and Mexico through the codeshare for flights departing May 16 onward. “This collaboration, that Volaris has maintained active for its customers since 2018, not only expands the travel options for Frontier customers, but also reinforces Volaris' commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and offering an extensive range of destinations between our two nations,” Volaris President and CEO Enrique Beltranena says.
Ryanair has opened a new base in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The ULCC is launching eight routes from the base to Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Manchester, Marseille, Tirana, Turin and Venice. “This significant expansion marks the start of a long-term strategy with the region to position Calabria as a leading destination in Europe, increasing inbound tourism, connectivity and tourism. employment, while offering the lowest rates in Europe,” Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson says.
Saudia signed a codeshare agreement with Kenya Airways. The partnership covers flights to destinations such as Accra in Ghana, Bamako in Mali, Bujumbura in Burundi, Lusaka in Zambia and Mombasa in Kenya, among others. The agreement was signed by Saudia's chief commercial officer, Arved Von Zur Muehlen, and Kenya Airways' regional general manager for India and the Middle East, Albert Abwoga.
American Airlines has inaugurated a new route from Philadelphia International Airport to Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, France. Flights will be daily through Oct. 6. Franck Goldnadel, chairman of the board of directors of Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur, says the new service “demonstrates the growing attractiveness” of the region to U.S. travelers.
The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority has signed an air transport agreement with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The agreement aims to increase connectivity between the countries. Following the move, Ethiopian Airlines is set to increase Addis Ababa-Kinshasa service to 3X-daily and Addis Ababa-Lubumbashi to 2X-daily. Flights between Addis Ababa and Kisangani will also be launched as part of the agreement.
May 8
GOL Linhas Aéreas and South African Airways (SAA) have resumed a codeshare partnership after a hiatus of more than four years. SAA currently offers 2X-weekly flights to connecting São Paulo-Guarulhos from Cape Town and two from Johannesburg using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The codeshare will allow SAA passengers to connect to GOL’s extensive network in Brazil. “This collaboration allows our customers to depart from GOL's main bases and, via Guarulhos, reach two of the most important cities in South Africa,” says André Gaspar, GOL head of alliances and distribution.
Icelandair has started scheduled flights to the Faroe Islands. The carrier will serve Vágar Airport five to six times per week until the end of October. Connections will be available via Reykjavik Keflavik to 17 destinations across North America. Icelandair says it is also working with Atlantic Airways to expand their codeshare cooperation.
Norwegian is expanding its network in Finland by launching two routes from Rovaniemi to London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Munich Airport (MUC). Flights to LGW will resume from Dec. 2, operating 3X-weekly, while service to MUC starts the following day and will be offered twice a week. Norwegian previously served LGW from Rovaniemi before the pandemic.
Spain’s Binter Canarias has announced plans to increase frequencies between Gran Canaria and Dakar, Senegal, from twice to three times per week from July. The service is operated using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Binter says the route offers connections to destinations including Madrid, Palma de Mallorca and Florence, Italy.
Latvia’s airBaltic has launched nonstop service from Riga to Chisinau, Moldova; Pristina, Kosovo; and Skopje, Macedonia. The three routes will each receive two flights per week and will be served using Airbus A220-300 equipment.
May 7
Air India plans to launch scheduled flights to Zurich after an absence of more than 25 years. Operations from New Delhi will commence on June 16 with four flights per week using Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The airline’s Star Alliance partner Swiss already serves the route daily. The last time Air India operated scheduled services to Zurich was in 1997.
Delta Air Lines is restarting daily service between Florida's Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) on Oct. 26 for the winter season. The service will operate daily using Airbus A330-300 aircraft. “By seamlessly linking Amsterdam’s vibrant international hub—Delta’s most-served airport in Europe—with Tampa Bay’s renowned beaches, Delta is offering customers a gateway to explore the best of Europe and America,” says Matteo Curcio, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India. Delta last served TPA-AMS during the northern summer 2019 season.
Colombia’s Avianca and Mexican ULCC Viva Aerobus have announced a new interline agreement. The move will allow Avianca passengers to connect from Mexico City and Cancun to 28 cities within Mexico. Likewise, travelers flying with Viva Aerobus will be able to connect from Bogotá with up to 23 destinations operated by Avianca in Colombia. “I believe in the potential of Colombia and Mexico as two of the most relevant markets in Latin America,” Avianca CCO Manuel Ambriz says.
Norwegian has commenced a new route from Aarhus, Denmark, to Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Flights will be offered twice a week. The launch comes as the LCC reported that nine new routes were launched in April as part of a 47-route expansion during summer 2024. Norwegian’s capacity in available seat kilometers was up 18% in April 2024 was also up 18% compared with the same month a year earlier.
EasyJet has opened a new route from Belfast City Airport (BHD), Northern Ireland, to Alicante, Spain. Flights will be twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays. OAG Schedules Analyser data shows that service to Palma de Mallorca will also begin on May 30.
Indian LCC IngiGo has announced additional flights between New Delhi and Phuket, Thailand, starting from June 1. Service will be doubled from daily to 14X-weekly. “With the advantage of visa-free entry to Thailand, these additional flights will boost travel, trade and tourism between both nations, thereby fostering stronger bilateral ties,” a statement from IndiGo says.
Eurowings has inaugurated its new service between Hannover, Germany, and Milan Bergamo Airport, Italy. Flights will initially operate twice per week on Mondays and Fridays, increasing to 4X-weekly from Sept. 4. Airbus A320 aircraft will be deployed on the sector.
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