The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Aug. 14
South Africa's Airlink will expand its codeshare partnership with Qatar Airways from Aug. 31, placing its 4Z code on Qatar-operated services to Doha from Johannesburg (2X-daily), Cape Town (10X-weekly) and Durban (daily via Maputo). The agreement makes Doha Airlink's first long-haul codeshare destination and builds on the reciprocal partnership established in 2022, as well as Qatar Airways' 25% stake in the South African carrier acquired in 2024. The airlines say additional Qatar Airways destinations will be added to the codeshare over the coming months.
Cebu Pacific plans to boost its network from Davao, Philippines, with the launch of 4X-weekly service to Hong Kong from Oct. 25 and 3X-weekly service to Bangkok Don Mueang from Oct. 26. The LCC also plans to increase Davao-Siargao frequencies from 6X-weekly to 10X-weekly and Davao-Iloilo from 10X-weekly to 14X-weekly. Earlier this month, the airline reported that it had increased domestic capacity by 20% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, helping lift its share of the Philippine domestic market to a record 65% in June, up from 56% a year earlier. However, international capacity fell 13% during the quarter, reducing its share of the country's international market to 23% from 25% a year earlier.
Starlux Airlines plans to launch 4X-weekly service between Taichung, Taiwan, and Nagoya Chubu Centrair, Japan, on Oct. 25 using Airbus A321neo aircraft. The route is scheduled to increase to daily service during November, before reducing to 3X-weekly from Dec. 1. The new route will become the carrier’s 12th international destination from Taichung, further expanding its Japan network from central Taiwan.
Aug. 13
Etihad Airways plans to launch a 4X-weekly service between Abu Dhabi and Gothenburg on Dec. 17, marking the first nonstop link between western Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. The route will be operated by a 160-seat Airbus A321LR. “Companies in West Sweden conduct business across Asia, and many of our travelers have relatives, friends, and family in the region,” Swedavia Airports CEO Mats Johannesson says. “The new service will strengthen connectivity for the region, particularly to the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia. This investment demonstrates strong confidence in the Swedish aviation market and in West Sweden as a region.”
Chengdu Airlines has launched 2X-weekly nonstop service between Jiamusi, China, and Khabarovsk, Russia. The inaugural flight achieved a 96% load factor. The carrier also recently launched 2X-weekly flights between Harbin, China, and Khabarovsk, with the two routes operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays through the end of the northern summer season using 90-seat Comac C909 aircraft. Khabarovsk Airport handled 86,000 passengers on China routes during the first seven months of 2026, up 62% year over year.
Aug. 12
Arajet will launch 3X-weekly nonstop service between Punta Cana and Montevideo on March 3, 2027, marking its first link between the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The new route expands Arajet’s South American network and enables passengers from Uruguay to connect via Punta Cana to the airline’s network of destinations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Flynas has confirmed plans to commence a 2X-weekly nonstop service between Jeddah and Aleppo on Sept. 2, further expanding its network in Syria. The new route increases Flynas’ operations between Saudi Arabia and Syria to 28X-weekly flights, comprising 14X-weekly Riyadh-Damascus, 7X-weekly Jeddah-Damascus, 3X-weekly Dammam-Damascus, 2X-weekly Riyadh-Aleppo and 2X-weekly Jeddah-Aleppo. The launch follows the carrier’s resumption of services to Damascus in 2025.
Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air will launch 2X-weekly nonstop service between Tashkent and Ufa, Russia, on Sept. 3. Flights will operate on Thursdays and Sundays using Airbus A320 aircraft. The route will have a flight time of approximately 3 hr.
Aug. 11
Etihad Airways has launched nonstop service between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent, marking the airline's first route to Uzbekistan. Fights will be daily using Airbus A320 aircraft. The launch complements Etihad's recently introduced codeshare partnership with Uzbekistan Airways, providing onward access from Tashkent to eight destinations across Uzbekistan, including Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana and Urgench.
Air Sierra Leone plans to resume its Freetown-Banjul-London Gatwick service in late October after receiving approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. The route was suspended earlier this year after the collapse of its aircraft provider Ascend Airways, which ceased operations and surrendered its UK air operator certificate, leaving Air Sierra Leone without aircraft for its UK services.
Air Serbia will launch 2X-weekly service from Nis to Vienna and Malta on Oct. 25, replacing routes being withdrawn by Ryanair for the winter season. Both routes will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays, ensuring southern Serbia retains nonstop links to the two European destinations after Ryanair's exit. “Through these flights, we want to provide passengers from Nis and the wider region with a reliable and high-quality direct connection to crucial European destinations,” Air Serbia CEO Jiří Marek says. “As the national airline, we strive to contribute to better connectivity between different parts of Serbia and Europe and to develop our offering in line with market needs.”
LATAM Airlines Brasil will launch 2X-daily service between Campinas Viracopos and Porto Alegre in February 2027. The route will offer morning and evening departures in each direction. In addition to the new Porto Alegre service, LATAM already operates daily flights between Campinas and Brasilia. Viracopos says the expansion further strengthens the airport's role as a key domestic connectivity hub in Brazil.
Aug. 10
VietJet Air has confirmed plans to serve Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), launching a 2X-weekly service from Ho Chi Minh City to the new Australian gateway on Jan. 10, 2027. Flights will increase to 3X-weekly from March. The route will be operated with Airbus A330 aircraft configured with 377 seats. In addition, Thai VietJet plans to launch 4X-weekly Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Western Sydney route from November 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The Ho Chi Minh City flights are supported by the New South Wales Government's Western Sydney International Take-Off Fund. WSI commenced cargo operations on July 27, while passenger services will begin in October.
Flyadeal will expand its India network with the launch of 5X-weekly nonstop service between Riyadh and Mumbai from Oct. 3 using Airbus A320neo aircraft. The route will become the Saudi LCC’s second destination in the country after Hyderabad, which was launched in July, adding more than 7,400 monthly seats between Riyadh and Mumbai. Flights are scheduled to provide onward connections across Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah, Madinah and Dammam. The new service will compete with Air India, IndiGo, Riyadh Air, Saudia and flynas also operate the route, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
Cebu Pacific plans to grow its international network in the fourth quarter of 2026 with the launch and resumption of five routes across China, Vietnam and Japan. The LCC will resume 3X-weekly Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City service on Oct. 26, followed by new 3X-weekly Cebu-Shanghai Pudong flights from Nov. 17 and new 4X-weekly Cebu-Nagoya service from Nov. 19. It will also resume 3X-weekly Clark-Hanoi flights on Nov. 19 and 2X-weekly Manila-Xiamen service on Nov. 23. Cebu Pacific says it will be the only Philippine carrier operating the Cebu-Shanghai, Cebu-Nagoya and Clark-Hanoi routes.
Japan Airlines (JAL) will deepen its partnership with Malaysia Airlines by placing its code on the carrier's new Kuala Lumpur-Fukuoka service from Sep. 2. In addition, Malaysia Airlines will add its code to JAL domestic flights to and from Fukuoka, improving onward connectivity across Japan for international passengers. The expanded cooperation forms part of JAL's strategy to support inbound tourism and strengthen regional gateways as Japan targets 60 million international visitors annually by 2030.
Air Charter Scotland will continue operating the public service obligation network from Wick John O'Groats Airport (WIC) after retaining its contract with The Highland Council. Under the renewed agreement, effective Aug. 15, 2026, to Aug. 14, 2027, the carrier will operate 1X-weekly return service between Wick and Aberdeen and introduce a new 3X-weekly return service between Wick and Glasgow. Flights will continue to be operated by AIS Airlines using 18-seat BAe Jetstream 32 aircraft. Air Charter Scotland says it has carried approximately 1,800 passengers on the Wick-Aberdeen route since assuming operations in January.
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