The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
May 31
Ryanair says it will offer one million fewer seats to and from Dublin Airport during winter 2024-25 after the Irish Aviation Authority capped capacity for the season at 14.4 million passengers. The decision comes as the airport reaches the maximum limit of a cap restricting the annual number of passengers to 32 million, a condition imposed as part of planning for the airport's second runway, opened in August 2022. Ryanair says it sought to grow by 9% at DUB during the winter while launching 15 new routes. It had hoped to carry 7.5 million passengers, but “has only been allocated 6.4 million seats.”
Oneworld alliance member Finnair has resumed flights to Nagoya, Japan, after a four-year absence. Operations from Helsinki will initially be twice a week. The relaunch of the Nagoya route marks a significant step in the carrier’s recovery of its Asia network, as it will now serve four destinations in Japan during the summer of 2024. In addition to Nagoya, Finnair will operate flights to Osaka Kansai International Airport, Tokyo Haneda International Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport.
Norse Atlantic Airways has operated its first nonstop flights between Athens International Airport (ATH) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Flights will be offered up to five times a week during the summer season using Boeing 787 aircraft. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Norse will compete directly with Delta Air Lines and American Airlines,, which serve the sector double-daily and daily, respectively. Additionally, Emirates and United Airlines each offer daily service between ATH and Newark.
ITA Airways has been authorized by the Saudi Arabia General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) to begin passenger service between Saudi Arabia and Italy. The carrier plans to launch flights from Rome Fiumicino to Riyadh on June 2, operating five times per week. “This initiative is part of GACA's efforts to improve air connectivity and link the kingdom to the global network, which aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030,” a statement from GACA says.
May 30
JetBlue Airways is to open a crew base at San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in Puerto Rico. The move comes just weeks after the New York-based carrier announced plans to introduce six new services from the airport during the winter 2024-25 season. The new crew base is expected to open by the end of 2024 and create more than 400 jobs. “Stationing pilots and inflight crewmembers in San Juan will not only bolster job creation on the island but also enhance JetBlue’s service and operational capabilities throughout the Caribbean and beyond,” a statement from JetBlue says. By this winter, the carrier will offer nonstop service between Puerto Rico and 18 cities in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean.
Solomon Airlines is increasing frequencies between Vanuatu and New Zealand and launching scheduled flights to Papua New Guinea. From June 19, flights linking Honiara, Solomon Islands, Port Vila, Vanuatu, and Auckland will increase to 2X-weekly. Service will then rise to 3X-weekly from Oct. 4. Additionally, the carrier will commence flights between Honiara and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, from July 1. Operations will be 1X-weekly until Oct. 4 when frequencies double.
Canada’s Porter Airlines is launching a new daily service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, beginning on Oct. 3. The route will operate using Embraer E195-E2 aircraft and marks Porter's arrival in Arizona. In addition, the airline has inaugurated a daily route between Calgary International Airport and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
AirBaltic has opened a new route from Palanga, Lithuania, to Amsterdam. Flights will operate twice a week. “This addition greatly enhances the connectivity of Western Lithuania, with more than 100 destinations connected via Amsterdam,” says Mantas Vrubliauskas, vice president for network development. “This route will also be important in attracting new visitors to the beautiful western Lithuanian region.” The airline connects Lithuania to 19 destinations and has two aircraft based in the capital Vilnius.
Omani LCC SalamAir is launching a new route connecting Muscat and New Delhi. Flights will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The airline also serves Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kozhikode and Lucknow in India. “This new route is expected to augment connections between Oman and India, further enhancing options for the expat community, leisure and support convenience for business travel,” a statement from SalamAir says.
May 29
Omani LCC SalamAir is launching nonstop flights between Muscat and Egypt’s capital Cairo. Service to Sphinx International Airport (SPX) will begin on June 15, operating three times per week. “Cairo holds great appeal for many travelers, not only for its iconic history and landmarks, but also the immense infrastructural developments it’s currently seeing,” SalamAir CEO Ahmed Shidhani says. SPX serves the city of Giza, on the western side of Cairo.
Australian airline Rex is launching a new domestic service between Perth and Adelaide. The route will be operated three times per week starting June 28 by subsidiary National Jet Express. Embraer E-190 aircraft will be deployed on the sector. Rex says almost 630,000 passengers flew between Adelaide and Perth last year.
Irish carrier Aer Lingus has confirmed plans to operate from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport’s (JFK) new $4.2 billion Terminal 6 once it opens to passengers in early 2026. Aer Lingus currently operates a 2X-daily nonstop service from JFK Terminal 7 to Dublin, daily to Shannon, Ireland, and daily service to Manchester, England, using Airbus A330 and A321LR aircraft. Additionally, the airline will open a new signature lounge in Terminal 6 for its passengers. Terminal 6 is being developed by JFK Millennium Partners in two phases, with the first five gates opening in early 2026 and construction completion expected by 2028.
Starlux Airlines has scheduled new service to Indonesia and Hong Kong. Operations between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Jakarta will commence on Sept. 1. Flights will be offered five times per week onboard Airbus A321neo aircraft. Additionally, the airline plans to begin flying from TPE to Hong Kong International Airport from July 16 with two flights per day. A330-900neos and A350-900s will be used on the route.
South Korea’s Aero K is opening a route connecting Seoul Incheon International Airport and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) from May 30. Flights will be daily using Airbus A320 aircraft. The route will be the airline’s second to NRT alongside fights from its Cheongju base.
FlyOne Armenia has resumed flying between Yerevan and Dusseldorf, Germany. Flights are initially operating once a week on Saturdays but will increase to 2X-weekly from June 19 with the addition of a Wednesday service. The carrier will deploy Airbus A320s on the sector. CEO Aram Khachatryan says the route attracts strong VFR traffic flows, as well as helping to drive inbound tourism to Armenia.
Indian LCC IndiGo is resuming nonstop operations between Mumbai and Jabalpur. From July 1, daily flights will be available. Jabalpur is located in Madhya Pradesh and boasts several notable landmarks, including the Marble Rocks at Bhedaghat.
May 28
China Southern Airlines will return to Western Australia with flights between Guangzhou and Perth Airport (PER) from Nov. 28. The service will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. PER says China already represents Western Australia's fourth biggest market with 54,000 visitors in 2023 and flights injected A$230 million ($153 million) into the economy. “Fresh produce, business and leisure tourism are all key export focus areas and a direct link between China and Perth will undoubtedly further connect Western Australia and benefit the entire economy,” PER chief commercial and aviation officer Kate Holsgrove says. In 2019, China Southern transported 47,900 passengers to Western Australia.
VietJet is expanding its summer domestic network in Vietnam by 35%, providing an additional 1.4 million seats. The LCC has also increased its number of night flights by 46%, amounting to 3,100 overnight services. The increase comes as the airline prepares to launch four new routes in June. Flights from Phu Quoc to Taichung, Taiwan, will start on June 13, operating three times per week. A second Taiwanese service from Phu Quoc will commence the following day, connecting the city to Kaohsiung four times per week. As previously reported, VietJet is also adding service from Hanoi to Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, from early June.
Emirates and Mexican ULCC Viva Aerobus have signed an interline agreement. The partnership covers onward travel from Mexico City International Airport (MEX) to 21 domestic points on Viva Aerobus’ network, including Acapulco, Cancun, Guadalajara and Monterrey. It also includes onward flights from MEX to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York John F. Kennedy and San Antonio, as well as from U.S points including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Orlando and Miami to select Mexican destinations. “Connecting Emirates route from Barcelona with our Mexico City network of routes, allows Emirates’ passengers to seamlessly reach many other destinations in Mexico and the U.S.,” says Javier Suarez, Viva Aerobus' executive vice president and chief planning and alliances.
Delta Air Lines has resumed summer season flights between New York John F. Kennedy International Airport and Shannon Airport, Ireland. Operations will be daily using Boeing 767-300 equipment. The airline had originally planned to deploy 757-200s on the route. “The additional capacity provided by the use of the larger 767-300 aircraft will provide even more choice for passengers in this region and inbound visitors,” Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine says.
Indian LCC IndiGo has announced new routes offering direct connectivity between Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-North Goa, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Nagpur, and service between Nagpur and North Goa with a stopover at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Starting from July 2, the flights will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
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