March will bring a fresh wave of short- and long-haul route launches as airlines expand their networks as the northern summer season gets underway.
In the Europe-North America market, Iberia will introduce daily Madrid-Newark service from March 29 using Airbus A321XLR aircraft, further expanding its U.S. footprint with long-range narrowbodies. The move adds capacity in the competitive New York sector, where the airline already serves New York John F. Kennedy twice a day from Madrid.
Etihad Airways is also growing its North American network from March 20 with the launch of 4X-weekly Boeing 787-9 flights between Abu Dhabi and Charlotte. The service becomes Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s only nonstop link to the Middle East and marks Etihad’s first entry into the U.S. Southeast. The carrier plans to offer about 1.09 million two-way seats to North America in summer 2026, up from 904,000 a year earlier.
In the Europe-Latin America segment, Aeromexico will reinstate Mexico City-Barcelona service from March 28, operating 6X-weekly 787-8 and 787-9 flights through Oct. 24. The return revives a market last served by the carrier until the onset of the pandemic and reintroduces direct competition with Emirates’ daily Dubai-Barcelona-Mexico City fifth-freedom operation.
Sabre Market Intelligence data show 148,700 passengers traveled between Mexico City and Barcelona in 2024, with about 70% flying nonstop. The reinstatement strengthens Aeromexico’s Spain offering to as many as 40X-weekly frequencies in summer 2026, including Madrid services from multiple Mexican gateways.
In Europe-Asia markets, Virgin Atlantic will launch daily London Heathrow-Seoul Incheon flights from March 29 with 787-9s, using remedy slots secured as part of Korean Air’s acquisition of Asiana Airlines. The addition creates a three-carrier nonstop market between the UK and South Korea, alongside SkyTeam partners Korean Air and Asiana.
On the same day, China Southern Airlines will commence 3X-weekly Beijing Daxing-Helsinki flights using 787-9 aircraft, ramping up to daily later in the season. The route gives Daxing its first nonstop link to the Nordic region and highlights the shifting balance of Europe-China capacity.
Helsinki’s traditional role as a Europe-Asia gateway has been challenged by Russian airspace restrictions affecting Western carriers. Finnair’s mainland China capacity has fallen sharply since early 2020, while Chinese airlines have expanded. China Southern now offers about 38,000 two-way weekly seats between mainland China and Europe (excluding Russia), up from about 28,000 before the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
Short-haul competition will also intensify in the UK. Jet2 will open a new base at London Gatwick from late March, with initial Tenerife flights starting March 26. Six aircraft will support 29 leisure routes, placing Jet2 head-to-head with easyJet on nearly every route and with BA Euroflyer on most. At an airport where easyJet controls roughly 44% of departure seats, the expansion signals a battle for short-haul leisure traffic ahead of the peak summer season.
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