The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
June 8
Riyadh Air has opened sales for flights between Riyadh and Manchester, marking the carrier's second UK destination. The route will commence on July 23 with 3X-weekly flights operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft. “This route has been carefully selected to serve a key market for connecting the north of England to the Middle East, aligning with our ambition to become a global airline,” Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas says. The announcement comes as Riyadh Air brings forward the launch of its London Heathrow service. Flights to the UK capital will now begin on June 10, three weeks earlier than originally scheduled. On June 5, Boeing said it had delivered the first two 787-9 aircraft to Riyadh Air, enabling the Saudi startup carrier to begin commercial passenger service.
Air Canada and Abra Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a long-term strategic partnership. The proposed agreement would build on Air Canada's existing relationships with Avianca and GOL, both part of Abra Group, and create a framework for broader commercial integration. The carriers plan to pursue a joint business agreement on selected Canada-Latin America routes, subject to regulatory approvals. Under the proposal, the airlines would expand codeshare cooperation and coordinate sales and distribution activities.
Philippine Airlines has deployed its second Airbus A350-1000 between Manila and Toronto Pearson. The A350-1000 will operate 3X-weekly roundtrips between the cities, complementing the airline's first A350-1000, which is currently deployed on services to New York. Toronto becomes the second destination in Philippine Airlines' network to receive the aircraft type.
Etihad Airways and Romania’s TAROM have signed a codeshare agreement ahead of Etihad's planned launch of flights between Abu Dhabi and Bucharest. The partnership, announced at the IATA Annual General Meeting, will allow Etihad customers to book onward travel beyond Bucharest to six destinations across Romania—Baia Mare, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Oradea, Suceava and Timisoara—as well as to Belgrade, Budapest, Chisinau and Sofia on TAROM-operated services. Etihad plans to open an Abu Dhabi-Bucharest route on Dec. 17.
Royal Air Maroc has inaugurated nonstop service between Casablanca and Los Angeles, extending its North American network to the U.S. West Coast for the first time. The route launched on June 7 and operates three times per week, with flights departing Casablanca on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Royal Air Maroc CEO Hamid Addou described the route as a milestone for both the airline and African connectivity, saying that it strengthens links between Morocco and the U.S. West Coast while supporting growing demand from diaspora, tourism and business travelers.
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