The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Aug. 21
Air Arabia will launch 4X-weekly nonstop service between Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and Katowice, Poland, from Dec. 17. The move expands the LCC’s Polish network to three destinations alongside Krakow and Warsaw Chopin. The route will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. “As a network carrier, Air Arabia significantly strengthens Katowice Airport's connectivity,” Katowice Airport CEO Artur Tomasik says. “We anticipate strong two-way traffic. Southern Poland residents gain better access to the airline's extensive range of destinations. Air Arabia ensures fast and convenient transfers at Sharjah Airport to numerous Asian markets.”
Frontier Airlines has resumed service at Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport, launching 11X-weekly nonstop flights to Las Vegas. The route marks the ULCC's return to Oakland after ending operations there in 2023. "Frontier's return is another positive step forward in expanding the choices available to Bay Area travelers," says Kristi McKenney, executive director at the Port of Oakland.
LOT Polish Airlines has opened sales for a new 4X-weekly year-round service between Gdansk and Paris Orly, scheduled to begin on Apr. 5, 2027. The route will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, replacing the carrier's Gdansk-Oslo service as part of a network optimization. The launch coincides with the 80th anniversary of LOT's first Warsaw-Paris flights, which began in July 1946. “The launch of a direct flight from Gdansk strengthens the offering of LOT Polish Airlines available on the regional market and opens up new travel opportunities between the Pomerania region and France,” LOT CCO Robert Ludera says.
Aug. 20
Scoot plans to launch a 3X-weekly service between Singapore and Guiyang from Oct. 26, 2026, expanding its mainland China network to 16 destinations. The new route will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft and will increase Scoot's China operation to 81X-weekly flights. With the addition of Guiyang, the airline's overall network will grow to 86 destinations across 18 countries and territories. Scoot also said it will increase frequencies on selected Asia-Pacific routes during the northern winter 2026-27 season to meet expected year-end holiday demand. In Thailand, services to Hat Yai will rise from 12X- to 14X-weekly and Phuket from 17X- to 21X-weekly. Clark, Philippines, will grow from 7X- to 10X-weekly from December; Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, from 10X- to 13X-weekly from January; Okinawa, Japan, from 4X- to 5X-weekly; and Tiruchirappalli, India, from 12X- to 14X-weekly from December. Daily flights to Phu Quoc, Vietnam, will also be progressively upgraded from Embraer 190-E2 to A320-family aircraft.
Cathay Pacific has opened bookings for a 3X-weekly nonstop service between Hong Kong and Almaty, Kazakhstan, from Jan. 9, 2027, marking the airline's first destination in Central Asia and the only direct passenger link between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. The route will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Hong Kong at 4:25 p.m. and arriving in Almaty at 8:30 p.m., with the return flight leaving Almaty at 9:50 p.m. and arriving in Hong Kong at 7 a.m. the following day. Cathay says the new service will strengthen Hong Kong's connectivity with Belt and Road markets while expanding trade, business and tourism links with Kazakhstan.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has authorized Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways to coordinate aspects of their operations between Australia and Japan under a joint venture agreement. The authorization also covers coordination on services between Australia, Japan and certain beyond markets. The ACCC says the arrangement is likely to deliver public benefits and is unlikely to result in any material public detriment. The authorization will remain in effect until Sept. 10, 2031.
Japan Airlines (JAL) will increase capacity on several international and domestic routes during the 2026-27 winter schedule. On its international network, the airline will increase Tokyo Haneda-Helsinki from 5X-weekly to daily from September and resume daily Tokyo Narita-Shanghai Pudong flights on Oct. 25. The carrier will also deploy more Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on its London and Paris routes, boosting Europe capacity by 16% year on year, while adding extra Tokyo Haneda-Hong Kong frequencies around the Lunar New Year period. JAL's Tokyo Haneda-Doha service will remain suspended through the end of March 2027. Domestically, JAL will launch daily Osaka Itami-Obihiro service on Dec. 1, resume year-round daily flights from Osaka Itami to Asahikawa on Oct. 25 and Memanbetsu on Feb. 1, 2027, and increase Osaka Itami-Sapporo Chitose from 5X-daily to up to 9X-daily through Jan. 31, 2027. The carrier will also add one daily frequency on Tokyo Haneda-Fukuoka (17X- to 18X-daily) and Tokyo Haneda-Okinawa (13X- to 14X-daily) from Oct. 25.
Qantas has extended several international schedule changes into the 2026-27 northern winter season, with services to London and Paris continuing to be adjusted because of the ongoing Middle East situation. From Oct. 25 through Jan. 31, 2027, Perth-London Heathrow will operate via Singapore, before returning to nonstop service from Feb. 1, 2027. The return London-Perth flight will remain nonstop throughout. Over the same period, Sydney-Paris will operate via Singapore instead of Perth, while the return service is unchanged. Separately, Qantas has delayed the international debut of its Airbus A321XLR. Brisbane-Manila will continue to be operated by A330 aircraft until Jan. 31, with the A321XLR now scheduled to enter service on the route from Feb. 1. The airline will also expand A321XLR operations on domestic trunk routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from Oct. 25, while “reducing some” A321XLR flights to and from Perth.
Aug. 19
Korean Air will return to Melbourne on Dec. 18 after a 13-year absence, offering 3X-weekly seasonal flights from Seoul Incheon following the completion of its merger with Asiana Airlines. The route will operate through March 14, 2027, using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, with flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The service replaces the Seoul-Melbourne operation previously flown by Asiana. Compared with the northern winter 2025-26 season, the route represents a capacity reduction, as Asiana also operated 3X-weekly but throughout the full season using larger Airbus A350-900 aircraft, data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows.
Air Arabia will launch daily nonstop service between Sharjah and Frankfurt on Dec. 15, becoming its second destination in Germany after Munich. The route will be operated using Airbus A320neo aircraft, with daily service split across two flight schedules: four weekly daytime frequencies on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and three weekly evening departures on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Frankfurt becomes the latest addition to Air Arabia's expanding European network from Sharjah, which also includes Milan Bergamo, Munich, Vienna, Athens, Prague, Krakow, Warsaw Chopin, London Gatwick and Rome.
Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways will launch 4X-weekly nonstop service between Kuwait and Aswan on Oct. 25, expanding its Egyptian network to nine destinations. The new route will complement Jazeera’s existing services to Cairo, Sphinx, Alexandria, Assiut, Luxor, Sohag, Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.
SunExpress plans to expand its Dalaman, Turkey, network from Germany and Austria for summer 2027, adding new routes and increasing frequencies to provide up to 28X-weekly flights from 10 airports. The Lufthansa-Turkish Airlines joint venture will launch new service from Hanover on May 1, operating 2X-weekly, and resume Leipzig/Halle-Dalaman flights 1X-weekly from Apr. 30. Vienna-Dalaman will also return 1X-weekly from Apr. 30. SunExpress will increase Dusseldorf-Dalaman from 5X-weekly to 6X-weekly and Hamburg-Dalaman from 1X-weekly to 2X-weekly. Existing services from Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne/Bonn, Munich and Stuttgart will continue.
Wizz Air is opening three new routes from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the 2026-27 winter season, adding direct flights to Berlin, Bratislava and Prague. Services to Berlin and Bratislava will begin on Dec. 3, 2026, operating 2X-weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Sarajevo-Prague will launch on Dec. 18 with 2X-weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays. The routes are being supported through air connectivity and tourism incentive programs backed by Sarajevo Canton and Sarajevo International Airport. “Each new direct line opens up additional space for tourist arrivals, business contacts, economic cooperation and connecting our companies with European markets,” says Sarajevo Canton Economy Minister Zlatko Mijatović.
Vietnamese LCC VietJet has launched nonstop service between Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, adding a new link between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. The route operates 3X-weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Cebu Pacific plans to commence nonstop service from Iloilo, Philippines, to Bangkok Don Mueang and Singapore on Nov. 23, restoring two international routes from its Western Visayas hub. Both routes will operate 3X-weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with return services on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The carrier currently serves 35 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
JetSmart has increased frequencies on its Lima-Quito route from 3X-weekly to 4X-weekly, with the additional Monday service. The airline now flies the route on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Ecuador’s civil aviation authority says the increase responds to sustained demand between Ecuador and Peru. During the first half of 2026, 102,176 passengers traveled from Ecuador to Peru and 108,098 in the opposite direction.
Aug. 18
SAS Scandinavian Airlines has confirmed it will launch year-round nonstop service between Copenhagen and Mumbai on Oct. 1, restoring flights to India after a 17-year absence following a delay to the route's planned June debut. The airline will operate the route 5X-weekly using Airbus A330 aircraft. The route was originally due to launch on June 2, but the inaugural flight was forced to return to Copenhagen after departing because final regulatory approval from Indian authorities had not been secured. Subsequent services were postponed while the airline obtained the required clearance. “This strategic route represents an extraordinary milestone for SAS, opening doors between Scandinavia and one of the world’s most dynamic economic hubs,” SAS CCO Paul Verhagen says.
Kazakhstan’s Air Astana has extended the suspension of flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai through Sept. 30, citing continued instability in the Gulf Region. The airline says it has also reduced frequencies on both routes for October. Affected passengers can rebook free of charge in the same booking class for travel through Nov. 20, request a full refund, or reroute to another Air Astana international destination without penalty, subject to any applicable fare difference.
TAP Air Portugal will launch 2X-weekly Porto-Sal, Cape Verde, service on Oct. 25. The year-round route will be operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft, with departures from Porto on Thursdays and Sundays during the winter schedule, switching to Wednesdays and Saturdays in summer 2027. The new service follows TAP's launches of Porto-Praia and Porto-Terceira earlier this summer. With the addition of Sal, the airline will offer more than 20X-weekly flights from Porto to seven intercontinental destinations—Boston, Luanda, New York, Praia, Rio de Janeiro, Sal and Sao Paulo.
SkyUp Airlines has opened sales for its summer 2027 schedule from Chisinau, Moldova, expanding its network to 26 destinations across 11 countries. The program includes new routes to Vienna, Milan Bergamo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Prague, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, Batumi, Tbilisi, Rhodes, Pula and Split, alongside the carrier's existing services to destinations including Athens, Barcelona, Dublin, Madrid, Tel Aviv and Thessaloniki.
WestJet plans to increase capacity to Latin America and the Caribbean by 12% year over year for the 2026-27 northern winter season. The Canadian carrier says growth will be driven by additional frequencies, larger aircraft and previously announced new routes, with capacity rising 77% from Saskatoon, 64% from Regina, 34% from Edmonton, 26% from Winnipeg and 18% from Calgary. New routes include Calgary-Merida, Winnipeg-Belize City, Winnipeg-Punta Cana and Regina-Los Cabos. WestJet will also launch Calgary-Sao Paulo service this winter, becoming the only airline offering nonstop flights between Western Canada and South America. The route will be operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Aug. 17
Allegiant Air will add nine new U.S. routes in February 2027, including one year-round, one seasonal and seven “hyper-seasonal" services timed to meet peak spring travel demand. The carrier's only new year-round route will connect Cincinnati and Orlando International from Feb. 12. A seasonal service between Grand Forks and Orlando Sanford will operate from Feb. 10 through Apr. 17. Allegiant will also introduce seven hyper-seasonal routes, including Boston to Orlando Sanford, Punta Gorda and St. Pete-Clearwater; Providence to Fort Lauderdale, Orlando Sanford and Sarasota; and Fort Lauderdale to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Most services will operate between mid-February and late April 2027, targeting spring break and other peak leisure travel periods.
El Al Israel Airlines has canceled plans to launch 3X-weekly service between Tel Aviv and Hanoi after Israeli security authorities said the airline could not obtain the approvals required to operate the route with Israeli aircraft and crews. The service had been scheduled to begin on Oct. 24 using Boeing 787 aircraft. Affected passengers will be offered rebooking via Bangkok on connecting flights operated by another airline, the option to switch to another El Al destination, or a full refund or travel voucher.
VietJet will expand its international network with new services to Japan, Thailand and the Philippines, including the launch of 4X-weekly flights between Da Nang and Osaka Kansai from Dec. 20, and the resumption of 4X-weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Chiang Mai service from Oct. 25. The carrier also confirmed plans to boost its Philippines network from Nov. 10 with 3X-weekly services between Ho Chi Minh City and Cebu, Hanoi and Cebu, and Ho Chi Minh City and Clark, complementing its existing Ho Chi Minh City-Manila route. Separately, following the reopening of Lien Khuong International Airport, the LCC will resume domestic flights linking Da Lat with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh and Da Nang from Aug. 19.
Brussels Airlines will commence scheduled passenger services to Evenes, Norway, and Kemi and Kittila, Finland, for the 2026-27 winter season, citing growing demand for Arctic leisure travel. Kittila will be served 3X-weekly from Dec. 10 through March 27, 2027, while Kemi will receive up to 2X-weekly service between Dec. 25 and March 10. Evenes will be served 1X-weekly during February and March. The carrier already operates charter flights to the region in partnership with tour operators, but the destinations will now also be available through its scheduled network. The Lufthansa Group carrier says the additions are part of a broader strategy to reduce seasonality by strengthening its winter leisure network.
United Airlines will launch seasonal nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport and Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) on Feb. 13, 2027, marking the first nonstop link between the two cities. The Saturday-only service will operate through Mar. 20 using a 126-seat Boeing 737-700. The addition expands United's JAC network to eight nonstop destinations for the 2026-27 winter season, complementing year-round service from Denver and seasonal flights from Chicago O'Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington Dulles.
Riyadh Air has launched daily nonstop service between Riyadh and Islamabad, marking the carrier's entry into the Pakistani market. The route is operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The airline is also scheduled to launch 3X-weekly service between Riyadh and Lahore on Aug. 18, further expanding its South Asia network. Riyadh Air says the new routes will strengthen connectivity for business, visiting-friends-and-relatives and religious travel between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
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