The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Nov. 14
LOT Polish Airlines will add San Francisco to its U.S. network in May 2026, boosting the carrier’s North American footprint. The new Warsaw-San Francisco service will launch on May 6 and operate four times per week using Boeing 787 aircraft during the summer season. The route will make San Francisco the airline’s sixth U.S. destination, joining Chicago, New York, Newark, Miami and Los Angeles. LOT says transatlantic flying remains “one of the carrier's key long-haul markets, with growing potential for both business and leisure travel.” Over the past 12 months, its U.S. routes have carried about 800,000 passengers.
Alaska Airlines has confirmed that its planned Seattle-Rome service will commence on April 28, 2026. Initially planned at 4X-weekly flights, the service has been upgraded to daily in response to strong demand. The seasonal route will be operated using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. “With our nonstop service from Seattle to Rome and London, we're opening the door to two of the world's most iconic regions with the style and care our guests expect from us,” Alaska’s CCO Andrew Harrison says. “These new routes mark a tremendous step in our global expansion.”
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will increase its Manila-Los Angeles schedule from 14 to 18X-weekly flights beginning in summer 2026. The airline currently operates the route twice a day with Boeing 777s. From June 1, a third daily flight will be offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. “By increasing our capacity on this key route, we are opening doors for travelers to experience the world-class service and heartfelt hospitality unique to Philippine Airlines, while also supporting the dynamic economic relationship that drives opportunities between the Philippines and the U.S.,” PAL President Richard Nuttall says.
Volotea plans to open a new route between Aalborg, Denmark, and Verona, Italy, in April 2026. The weekly Airbus A320 service will operate on Thursdays from April 2 to July 23 and again from Aug. 27 to Oct. 22. Aalborg Airport Director Niels Hemmingsen says the route “opens the doors to one of Italy's most sought-after areas,” noting its proximity to Lake Garda, the Dolomites and cities such as Venice and Milan.
Jetstar will expand its Newcastle-Denpasar Bali service to four flights per week from late March 2026, just weeks after launching the route, citing stronger-than-expected demand. The added frequency raises annual capacity by about 24,000 seats to more than 96,000. All 4X-weekly flights will continue to Singapore after a 90-min. stop in Denpasar.
Transavia has launched a new route between Amsterdam Schiphol and Rabat, Morocco. Transavia CEO Marcel de Nooijer says the addition of Rabat “symbolises our role as a bridge builder between the Netherlands and Morocco,” adding that the route meets rising demand for leisure, family and business travel. The LCC will serve Rabat three times per week using its new Airbus A321neo fleet.
Nov. 13
Avelo Airlines is adding six nonstop routes across its Wilmington, Concord and Lakeland bases in early 2026, alongside planned fleet growth at each location. From Wilmington, Delaware, the carrier will launch 5X-weekly flights to Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson starting Feb. 12, 2026, and 4X-weekly flights to Chicago O’Hare beginning March 12. At Concord-Padgett Regional Airport near Charlotte, Avelo will start 4X-weekly flights each to Chicago O’Hare and Nashville on Feb. 12. In Central Florida, Lakeland International Airport will see 2X-weekly service to Detroit beginning Feb. 11 and five weekly flights to Atlanta from Feb. 13.
Finnair is expanding its European network for summer 2026, adding 12 new destinations from its Helsinki hub. In addition to previously announced routes to Alta, Catania, Florence, Kos and Valencia, flights are now on sale to Kuressaare in Estonia, Luxembourg, Stavanger in Norway, Thessaloniki in Greece, Tirana in Albania, Turin in Italy and Umea in Sweden. The carrier will also bolster winter 2026 access to Finnish Lapland with new nonstop services from Rovaniemi to Brussels, Paris and Zurich. Finnair says the expansion is supported by an enlarged wet-lease partnership with Danish operator Jettime.
JetBlue will add year-round nonstop service between Greater Rochester International Airport and Orlando International Airport beginning March 26, 2026. The route will operate five times per week. “Orlando is one of the most popular destinations for Upstate New Yorkers, and this new route gives customers an easy way to get to the sunshine, theme parks, and all the attractions Central Florida has to offer,” JetBlue Vice President of Network Planning and Airline Partnerships Dave Jehn says. JetBlue has served Rochester since 2000, primarily with service to New York.
IndiGo has opened service between Kolkata and Siem Reap, becoming the first Indian carrier to connect India and Cambodia. The flights operate three times per week using Airbus A320neo aircraft, expanding the LCC’s international network to 46 destinations and 140 points in total. CEO Pieter Elbers says the route “not only expands our network across Southeast Asia but also enhances our global connectivity from our Kolkata hub,” adding that it “will play a vital role in fostering deeper ties between India and the ASEAN region.” Siem Reap is Cambodia’s second-largest city and gateway to Angkor Wat.
Etihad Airways has launched flights between Abu Dhabi and Medina, expanding its footprint in Saudi Arabia to five destinations. The airline will operate 5X-weekly flights to the city using Airbus A321 aircraft, increasing to six later this year. Etihad now operates 93 flights per week to Saudi Arabia, including four daily services each to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, and 3X-weekly flights to Al Qassim. “With this new route, we look forward to supporting religious travel and providing guests with greater access, choice and convenience through our home in Abu Dhabi,” Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves says.
Nov. 12
AirAsia will launch a new route between Johor Bahru and Kunming, China, on Dec. 14, marking another step in the airline’s strategy to expand its southern hub beyond Kuala Lumpur. The service will operate three times per week. “We are not just growing our network, we are redefining Malaysia’s connectivity within the region to the world,” AirAsia Malaysia CEO Fareh Mazputra says. He adds that linking Johor Bahru and Kunming “marks our commitment to expanding beyond Kuala Lumpur and strengthening key regional hubs across the country.” The new flights complement the LCC’s 14X-weekly Kuala Lumpur-Kunming service.
Qatar Airways will commence three flights per week between Doha and Hail, Saudi Arabia, from Jan. 5, 2026, expanding its Saudi network to 13 cities. The new service will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Alongside the new Hail route, the carrier will increase service to Jeddah and Riyadh from six to seven flights per day as it continues to enhance connectivity for business, leisure and religious travel.
Ryanair plans to base a fourth aircraft at Shannon Airport for summer 2026. The move will support 15% growth and four new routes. The Irish ULCC intends to add services to Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, and Poznan, while increasing frequencies on five existing routes to Alicante, Lanzarote, Manchester, Malta and Reus. The carrier’s expanded schedule will add 180,000 seats next summer, lifting Shannon traffic to more than 2 million seats annually.
Eurowings will resume service between Brindisi’s Salento Airport and Prague’s Vaclav Havel Airport from June 3, 2026, operating weekly on Wednesdays throughout the summer season. Aeroporti di Puglia President Antonio Maria Vasile says the renewed link is “a tangible sign of the competitiveness and attractiveness of Puglia’s airport system.”
Cathay Pacific has restarted flights to Adelaide with the launch of a 3X-weekly seasonal service from Hong Kong, restoring a key air link between South Australia and Asia. “We are delighted to return to Adelaide, a city we have a long history with having first launched flights in 1992,” Cathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Lavinia says. “Adelaide is a dynamic city on the South Australia coast that offers visitors incredible culinary delights, world-renowned wines, stunning natural attractions and much more.” The service operates using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.
Nov. 11
IndiGo and China Southern Airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a codeshare partnership and broader cooperation agreement, aiming to expand connectivity between India and China. The carriers said the arrangement, subject to regulatory approvals, will enable China Southern to offer greater access to Indian destinations while giving IndiGo passengers connections across China Southern’s network beyond Guangzhou. The partnership follows IndiGo’s resumption of flights to mainland China, including the reinstatement of Kolkata-Guangzhou service in late October and the launch of new daily nonstop route between New Delhi and Guangzhou on Nov. 10.
TUI will add three new routes to Kos for summer 2026, introducing service from Bournemouth and Exeter for the first time and reinstating flights from London Stansted. The leisure carrier will offer weekly service from Bournemouth and Exeter, while Stansted will see 2X-weekly flights on Mondays and Thursdays. The Stansted route last operated in 2019.
InterCaribbean Airways will launch 2X-weekly nonstop service between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Kitts on Dec. 18, expanding the airline’s network in the Eastern Caribbean. “This route marks another important step in our mission to connect the people and cultures of the Caribbean,” CEO Trevor Sadler says. “By establishing nonstop service between San Juan and St. Kitts, we’re creating a vital link between two key Caribbean gateways.”
ITA Airways has inaugurated nonstop service between Rome Fiumicino and Mauritius, adding a new intercontinental route to its winter 2025-26 schedule. The 2X-weekly flights operate on Saturdays and Mondays from Mauritius and on Fridays and Sundays from Rome, using Airbus A330-900s. “We are proud to be here today and launch the new nonstop flight from Rome to Mauritius,” ITA Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer Emiliana Limosani says. “We are confident that this route will strengthen the ties between Italy and Mauritius.”
China Eastern Airlines will launch the first-ever nonstop service between Adelaide and Shanghai from mid-2026, marking the carrier’s entry into the South Australian market. Flights will be seasonal and operate three times per week. “This service will see one of China’s largest carriers connecting Adelaide with China’s largest city and one of the biggest cities in the world,” said Brenton Cox, Managing Director, Adelaide Airport. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to open up business and tourism opportunities between China and South Australia and connecting with the rest of the world through China Eastern’s vast network.”
Nov. 10
Etihad Airways and Hong Kong Airlines have expanded their commercial cooperation with a new codeshare partnership and a reciprocal loyalty agreement. Under the codeshare, Hong Kong Airlines’ Hong Kong-Abu Dhabi service now carries Etihad’s EY code, while Etihad passengers can connect to Fukuoka, Sapporo, Osaka and Okinawa on Hong Kong Airlines flights marketed as HX. Louis Li, Hong Kong Airlines’ executive vice president, says the cooperation “marks an important milestone in Hong Kong Airlines’ return to the international market.”
Jetstar will launch its largest expansion from Melbourne Avalon Airport (AVV), adding new international service to Bali, restoring flights to Adelaide and increasing Brisbane frequencies. The LCC says the moves will introduce more than 330,000 additional annual seats at AVV. The Bali service, Jetstar’s first international route from AVV, begins March 23, 2026, with five Airbus A321LR flights per week. The LCC will also begin up to 7X-weekly flights to Adelaide from March 26, providing about 109,000 annual seats, and add up to five extra Brisbane services, boosting capacity by another 107,000 seats. “This is a massive step forward for Jetstar at Melbourne Avalon Airport,” Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully says.
Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines plans to open a route between Prague and Sanya, China, on Dec. 21 using Boeing 737-9 aircraft. The flight will operate once a week with a technical stop in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, SCAT will be the sole scheduled operator on the route, which will add new direct connectivity between the Czech Republic and China’s Hainan province during the winter season.
EasyJet has inaugurated service from London Southend Airport (SEN) to Berlin. Flights will be offered twice a week, operating on Mondays and Fridays. The new route further strengthens easyJet’s partnership with SEN and follows the carrier’s return to Barcelona service earlier this month. Additional growth is planned in the coming weeks, including new flights to Rovaniemi, Finland, from Dec. 1 and ski routes to Grenoble, France, and Salzburg, Austria, opening on Dec. 6 and 14, respectively.
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