The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Dec. 8
Jetstar plans to launch its first route between Australia and Sri Lanka in 2026, offering flights connecting Melbourne and Colombo. Service will begin on Aug. 25, 2026, operating three times per week using Boeing 787 aircraft. The move will add 100,000 seats between the cities annually. “This new route out of our home base of Melbourne is part of a huge growth phase for Jetstar,” Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says. “We’ve added new destinations, more aircraft and we’re continuing to expand our international network.”
Qantas has launched two new international routes from Perth, opening links to Johannesburg and Auckland. Both services will operate three times per week using Airbus A330s. “These routes unlock more options and greater choice for all Australians to connect to the world through our growing network, including to popular cities like Cape Town through our partnership with Airlink in South Africa and for West Australians to New York via Auckland,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace says. Qantas has also announced the resumption of international services from the Gold Coast, nearly five years after they were suspended. From June 16, 2026, the airline will operate 3X-weekly flights from Gold Coast to Auckland, adding 52,000 annual seats. Additionally, Qantas plans to offer a Sydney-Auckland-Apia service from June 16, operating on alternate days to the airline's nonstop Brisbane-Apia service, providing “near-daily Qantas connectivity between Australia and Samoa.”
Air India and Maldivian have entered a bilateral interline agreement designed to strengthen India-Maldives air connectivity. The partnership enables Air India to offer seamless access to 16 Maldivian domestic destinations beyond Male—including Hanimaadhoo, Gan, Kooddoo, Dharavandhoo, Maafaru and Kulhudhuffushi—on a single itinerary with through-checked baggage. The arrangement also supports Maldivian’s international feed, allowing Air India passengers from New Delhi, Mumbai and connecting long-haul markets to transfer onto Maldivian services from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to Male and Hanimaadhoo.
Volotea has launched a new 2X-weekly route linking Madrid and Genoa, Italy, marking the return of nonstop service between the two cities. With the addition of Madrid, the LCC now serves four destinations from Genoa’s Cristoforo Colombo Airport: Naples, Olbia, Paris Orly and Madrid. The airline is also planning further expansion in 2026, with more than 162,000 seats on sale—up 44% year-on-year—and nearly 1,000 flights compared with 648 this year.
Turkish Airlines and South African Airways (SAA) have signed a new codeshare agreement. Under the agreement, Turkish Airlines will add its TK code to SAA flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Windhoek, Harare, Victoria Falls and Mauritius. SAA’s SA code will be added on Turkish Airlines services from Istanbul to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and major European gateways including Frankfurt, Paris and London. “This codeshare agreement with South African Airways is a meaningful step in further strengthening our presence in the African market,” says Turkish Airlines Chairman Ahmet Bolat.
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