The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Jan. 16
Swiss leisure carrier Edelweiss plans to introduce a new route from Zurich to Windhoek from June 1, operating twice a week. The move comes alongside two other new routes to Glasgow and Kefalonia, as previously reported. Additionally, in North America, Edelweiss will resume Seattle service from June 1, increasing to 3X-weekly flights later in June, extend Halifax through Oct. 18 and resume Vancouver from May 5, rising to daily flights from mid-June to meet peak summer and FIFA World Cup demand. Across Europe, the airline will add capacity with daily Faro flights during school holidays, increased frequencies to Kalamata, Bergen, Zadar and Tbilisi, extended seasons to Calvi, Figari, Santiago de Compostela and Varna, and up to 4X-weekly flights to the Azores. Caribbean service to Punta Cana will continue 3X-weekly during peak periods.
Corsair will open a new long-haul route between Toulouse and La Reunion from June 15, expanding connectivity between mainland France and the Indian Ocean. The service will operate 2X-weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays using Airbus A330neo aircraft. “With the opening of the Toulouse-La Reunion service, Corsair is continuing a strong conviction: to bring mainland regions closer to overseas territories,” CEO Pascal de Izaguirre says.
LOT Polish Airlines has launched a new route between Warsaw and Malaga. The service will initially operate three to four times per week, increasing to 6X-weekly flights by late February, operating every day except Tuesdays. “The launch of direct flights from Warsaw to Malaga opens up one of Southern Europe’s most attractive regions to our passengers,” says Robert Ludera, LOT’s director of network planning.
Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Emerald Airlines, will commence a new route between Dublin and Inverness from May 21, expanding connectivity between Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. The service will operate 2X-weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, targeting both business and leisure demand during the peak summer season.
Air Europa will expand its short- and medium-haul network from Madrid in June. From June 1, the airline will launch year-round service linking Madrid with Oviedo and Seville, operating 2X-daily flights to each city. At the same time, the carrier will increase frequencies on its Madrid–Milan Malpensa and Madrid–Rome Fiumicino routes from two to three flights per day. All services will be operated with Boeing 737 aircraft.
Jan. 15
Air Serbia will commence a new nonstop route between Belgrade and Alicante from June 1. The service will operate 2X-weekly on Mondays and Fridays using Airbus A320-family aircraft, with the possibility of extending the route beyond the summer season. Alicante becomes Air Serbia’s eighth destination in Spain, joining Malaga, Seville, Valencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife. “The new direct Belgrade–Alicante service is a result of a detailed analysis of the market and performance of comparable routes,” says Boško Rupić, Air Serbia’s general manager for commercial and strategy.
TAP Air Portugal plans to add two new international routes from Porto. The airline is scheduled to launch 4X-weekly service between Porto and Tel Aviv from Oct. 25 using Airbus A320neo aircraft. TAP will be the only scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. The Star Alliance member also plans to begin 3X-weekly flights between Porto and Praia, Cape Verde, from July 2, also operated with A320neo aircraft. Porto–Praia route is currently served by easyJet.
LOT Polish Airlines has launched a new service between Gdansk and Istanbul, strengthening international connectivity from northern Poland. The route operates four times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. “The launch of the Gdansk–Istanbul connection is an important element of our consistent strategy aiming to strengthen the presence of LOT Polish Airlines at the country’s regional airports,” says Robert Ludera, director of network planning at LOT.
Jan. 14
Edelweiss will commence a new seasonal nonstop route between Zurich and Glasgow Airport (GLA) from May 29. The service will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays through Sept. 14 using Airbus A320 equipment. "The addition of Edelweiss strengthens our longstanding partnership with the Lufthansa Group and enhances travel options for both leisure and business passengers across Scotland,” says Chris Tibbett, aviation director at GLA operator AGS Airports. Additionally, Edelweiss plans to introduce a Zurich–Kefallinia service from June 6, operating up to 2X-weekly through Aug. 29.
LOT Polish Airlines will discontinue flights between Vilnius and London City Airport from the end of the 2025-26 winter season, while increasing capacity on its Vilnius–Warsaw route. Service to London City, which currently operates five times per week, is scheduled to end on March 27. However, LOT plans to increase Vilnius frequencies from Warsaw to 38 per week from the start of the summer 2026 season. The airline has operated the Vilnius–London City route since 2019, supported by a risk-sharing agreement with Lithuanian Airports signed in 2023.
Air Europa will launch a new route between Madrid and Geneva from June 19. The SkyTeam member will operate 2X-daily flights between its Spanish hub and the Swiss city. From Madrid, passengers will have access to onward connections to 22 destinations in South America, including Buenos Aires, Lima and Panama City, as well as leisure markets in the Caribbean such as Cancun, Havana and Punta Cana.
Breeze Airways will launch new 2X-weekly, year-round service between New York Stewart International Airport and Raleigh-Durham International Airport from May 6. The route will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “This new Breeze service is a meaningful expansion for New York Stewart, adding a strong nonstop link to a growing hub,” says Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Kevin O’Toole. The addition builds on Breeze’s existing service from Stewart to Charleston, Orlando and Fort Myers.
Pegasus Airlines plans to open a new international route between Cukurova and Erbil from March 11, connecting southern Turkey and northern Iraq. The LCC will be the sole operater of the route, data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows. Flights will be offered twice a week using Airbus A320 aircraft.
Jan. 13
Wizz Air has unveiled a series of new routes for summer 2026. From May 12, the ULCC will launch a new Naples–Palma de Mallorca service, operating three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The airline will also add a new Milan Malpensa–Bilbao route from May 11, operating four times a week, further expanding its Spanish network from northern Italy. In Bulgaria, Wizz Air will introduce three new routes for summer 2026: Sofia–Santander from March 31, Sofia–Corfu from June 7 and Varna–Katowice from June 7, all operating twice a week. The additions strengthen connectivity between Bulgaria and Southern, Western and Central Europe, while supporting inbound tourism and VFR traffic.
AirAsia X will resume nonstop flights between Kuala Lumpur and Busan from June 17. The service will operate 4X-weekly, making Busan the airline’s second point in South Korea alongside Seoul and its 21st destination overall. “We’re thrilled to bring back this beloved route and proud to be the only airline in Malaysia operating direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Busan,” says Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X.
Saudia plans to add service between Riyadh and Kozhikode from Feb. 1, expanding its network to southern India. The airline will operate the route four times per week using Airbus A321neo aircraft, adding capacity to a market that serves strong VFR demand between Saudi Arabia and India’s Kerala state. The Riyadh–Kozhikode route is already served by flynas and Air India Express, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
LATAM Airlines Brasil intends to restart seasonal nonstop service between Sao Paulo Guarulhos and Ushuaia, Argentina, during the southern winter 2026 season. Subject to government approval, the service will operate from July 1 to Aug. 31 with 4X-weekly flights using Airbus A320 aircraft. “Ushuaia is a unique destination that is highly valued by Brazilians, especially during the winter,” says Aline Mafra, LATAM Brasil’s Sales and Marketing Director. LATAM will also resume seasonal Sao Paulo Guarulhos–Bariloche flights from June 15 to Aug. 30. operating daily and increasing to up to 10X-weekly flights.
Jan. 12
Etihad Airways will launch nonstop service between Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg from Oct. 29, 2026, becoming the first Middle East carrier to serve the country. The service will operate three times a week to Luxembourg Airport using Airbus A321LR aircraft, featuring a three-class configuration. The route targets demand from Luxembourg and surrounding Benelux, French and German markets for direct access to Abu Dhabi. “This route is about more than connectivity—it is about building new bridges between Europe and the UAE, unlocking opportunities for business, tourism and cultural exchange,” Etihad’s CEO Antonoaldo Neves says.
Wizz Air will expand its Spanish network in 2026 with the launch of two new international routes. From March 29, the airline will begin 2X-weekly nonstop flights between Santander and Tirana, operating on Thursdays and Sundays. From June 9, Wizz Air will also launch a new three-times-weekly route between Menorca and Budapest, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The service follows the addition of a 19th aircraft at the airline’s Budapest base. In addition, the ULCC will increase Barcelona-Budapest frequencies to 16X-weekly flights and expand Malaga-Budapest to up to 7X-weekly services.
Malaysia Airlines has resumed nonstop service between Kuala Lumpur and Chengdu. Flights will operate up to 7X-weekly. With the addition of Chengdu, the carrier now serves seven destinations across Greater China. The timing of the service also aligns with the extension of mutual visa-free travel arrangements between Malaysia and China.
Oman Air plans to launch nonstop flights between Muscat and Kigali, Rwanda. The new route was announced during a signing ceremony in Muscat and is positioned to support growing ties in tourism, trade and meetings and events travel between Oman and Rwanda. “We continue to focus on expanding our network in markets with strong demand and long-term potential,” says Con Korfiatis, Oman Air’s CEO, adding that the Kigali service will “unlock the growing tourism potential of both countries.”
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