The month will see EVA Air add Dallas-Fort Worth to its U.S. network, Delta Air Lines debut in Marrakech, Gulf Air resume service to New York after nearly three decades and Norse Atlantic Airways offer new flights to Bangkok.
Gulf Air is among the first movers of the month, returning to the U.S. for the first time since the 1990s. Beginning Oct. 1, the Bahraini carrier will operate 3X-weekly Boeing 787-9 flights between Bahrain International Airport and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
The launch follows Bahrain’s FAA Category 1 upgrade in 2024, which cleared the way for direct U.S. services. Gulf Air previously flew to JFK between 1994 and 1997 but later refocused on its regional hub role. The new service supports Bahrain’s tourism strategy and reflects the airline’s plan to expand its network to as many as 25 new destinations over the next five years.
On Oct. 3, Taiwan’s EVA Air will inaugurate flights between Taipei Taoyuan and Dallas-Fort Worth International, its seventh U.S. destination and second in Texas alongside Houston Intercontinental. The Star Alliance member will serve the route three times per week, complementing existing services to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago and New York. North America accounts for nearly a fifth of EVA’s international seat capacity, and Dallas has long been on the radar thanks to its role as one of the world’s busiest airports and a center of corporate relocations. EVA has operated cargo flights to Dallas since 1998, but the new passenger route will give the carrier fresh access to the Asia–Texas market.
Later in the month, Delta Air Lines will launch Atlanta–Marrakech flights on Oct. 25, becoming the only U.S. carrier flying nonstop to the Moroccan city. The 3X-weekly route with 767-400ERs marks Delta’s debut in Marrakech and expands Atlanta’s North African connections.
Marrakech will become Delta’s sixth African destination, joining Accra, Cape Town, Dakar, Johannesburg and Lagos. The move also builds on the SkyTeam member’s transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM, which already offers extensive service to Morocco.
Etihad Airways is broadening its global footprint during October as well, adding four new points to its network. The Abu Dhabi-based airline will begin service to Addis Ababa, Medan, Krabi and Phnom Penh. Addis Ababa will be launched in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines as part of a new joint venture, opening more connectivity between Africa and the Middle East.
In Europe, long-haul LCC Norse Atlantic Airways is doubling down on Thailand. Starting Oct. 29, the Norwegian carrier will introduce 2X-weekly 787-9 flights to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi from both Stockholm Arlanda and London Gatwick.
The services are designed to capture strong winter demand for Thailand travel and also support cargo flows, with technology shipments among the expected beneficiaries. Norse is in the midst of a strategic pivot toward more ACMI and charter flying but sees Bangkok as a resilient leisure market.
Meanwhile, ULCC Wizz Air is footprint in the Caucasus by opening a base in Yerevan, Armenia. Eight new routes will connect Yerevan to Prague, Hamburg, Paris Beauvais, Paphos, Naples, Bari, Bucharest Otopeni and Memmingen.
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