The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Dec. 16
Etihad Airways has launched a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Nairobi, Kenya. Flights will be 4X-weekly using Airbus A320 aircraft. “The introduction of our Nairobi service enhances our growing network while responding to strong travel demand between the UAE and Kenya, as demonstrated by today's completely full inaugural flight,” says Etihad Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer Arik De. This launch is part of Etihad's broader network expansion, with plans to introduce 13 new destinations in 2025, including Warsaw, Prague, Taipei and Tunis.
Air Arabia will launch weekly service between Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, starting Dec. 27. Flights will operate every Friday using Airbus A320 aircraft, with departures from Ras Al Khaimah at 9:10 a.m. and return flights from Tashkent at 2:40 p.m. The addition brings the number of destinations served from Ras Al Khaimah to eight, including Moscow, Cairo and Islamabad. “This new route reflects our commitment to developing our tourism offering from Ras Al Khaimah and continuously offering our passengers reliable and affordable air travel options,” says Air Arabia Group CEO Adel Al Ali.
IndiGo has announced four new codeshare connections to the U.S.—Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles—via Istanbul, starting Dec. 18, 2024. These additions, in partnership with Turkish Airlines, expand IndiGo's U.S. reach to nine destinations. “These new connections further enhance travel options for our customers, in addition to the current New York, Washington, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco,” says IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra.
Italy’s Aeroitalia has resumed operations at Trapani Birgi Airport with the launch of two new domestic routes to Parma and Cuneo. Both routes will operate twice weekly using Embraer 175 aircraft, carrying up to 88 passengers. The relaunch of flights from Trapani comes after a two-year hiatus and coincides with Aeroitalia’s participation in the Sicilian Region’s initiative offering a 50% discount on airfares for direct flights to and from Sicily between Dec. 7 and Jan. 6, 2025.
WestJet has launched a route connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport and Maurice Bishop International Airport, Grenada. Flights will operate once a week through April 27, 2025. “This connection expands access to one of the most sought-after Caribbean destinations,” says WestJet Vice-President of Network and Schedule Planning Daniel Fajardo.
Qatar Airways will resume daily flights to Canberra, Australia, in December 2025. The service will operate from Doha’s Hamad International Airport via Melbourne, using Boeing 777 aircraft. “This service not only provides over a million residents access to a global network spanning more than 170 destinations, but also invites the world to rediscover Canberra's unique cultural, educational and tourism offerings,” says Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron.
Starting Jan. 16, 2025, Air India’s retrofitted Airbus A320neo aircraft will serve New Delhi-Bangkok flights. Additionally, a fourth daily service on the route will commence Jan. 1. From Jan. 1, the airline will also deploy Vistara A321neo and Boeing 787-9 aircraft on two routes from New Delhi and two from Mumbai. New Delhi-Frankfurt and Mumbai-Frankfurt will now operate using 787-9s, while New Delhi-Singapore will be served once a day with 787-9s and twice a day with A321neos. Mumbai-Singapore will also receive 2X-daily A321neo service.
Malaysia Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways have reinstated their codeshare partnership, enhancing connectivity between Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Malaysia Airlines will introduce its MH flight code on Uzbekistan Airways’ Tashkent–Kuala Lumpur route, marking the carrier’s first entry into Central Asia. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways will place its HY flight code on several Malaysia Airlines routes, offering passengers access to popular Southeast Asian destinations like Langkawi and Kota Kinabalu via Kuala Lumpur.
Frontier Airlines has restarted operations at Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) with the launch of nonstop service to Denver International Airport and San Francisco International Airport. Both routes began Dec. 13, 2024, and operate three times per week. With its return to PSP, Frontier now serves nine California markets. “Frontier's return marks another step forward in our commitment to providing travelers with greater choice, value and convenience,” says PSP Executive Director Harry Barrett Jr.
South Africa’s Airlink has confirmed the introduction of a Johannesburg-Kinshasa route, enhancing connectivity to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Flights will be 3X-weekly from March 28, 2025. Additionally, the airline will commence a Cape Town-Gaborone route from April 1, also operating three times per week.
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