Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Nov. 18, 2024)

The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.

Nov. 22

Nov. 21

Jetstar Asia has launched direct flights between Singapore and Colombo, Sri Lanka, becoming the first LCC on the route. Operating five times per week with Airbus A320s, the service offers morning and evening departures, providing 90,000 annual seats. “The timing of this new service is great as Sri Lanka is on track to attract three million tourists by the end of next year,” Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam says. “This connection not only enhances accessibility for travellers from Singapore but also taps into markets in Australia and the region, increasing demand for affordable travel options to Sri Lanka and beyond.”

U.S. carrier Avelo Airlines has opened its second international route. After commencing flights from Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Hartford, Connecticut, to Montego Bay, Jamaica, the airline has now introduced service from BDL to Cancun, Mexico. Flights will be 2X-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays using Boeing 737 aircraft. “As the only current airline offering nonstop service to Mexico from Connecticut, we are leading the way in making it convenient and affordable for our customers to enjoy Cancun and the nearby vacation destinations of Tulum and Cozumel,” Avelo Airlines Founder and CEO Andrew Levy says.

Alaska Airlines has introduced the first of 10 new services launching in November and December. On Nov. 20, the carrier began flying between Los Angeles and La Paz, Mexico. In December, the Oneworld alliance member plans to debut additional nonstop routes between Fresno and Guadalajara; Boise to Bozeman and Orange County; Los Angeles to Kelowna, B.C.; San Diego to Reno; Vail, Eagle County, from San Diego and Seattle; and Liberia from Seattle and San Francisco.

Nov. 20

Fiji Airways is opening a new route between Nadi, Fiji, and Cairns, Australia. Service will commence on April 10, 2025, operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The carrier plans to deploy Boeing 737-8 aircraft on the route. “Northern Australia holds a special allure for many of our travelers, and we're proud to bring them closer to it,”Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO André Viljoen says. “This route also offers convenient onward connections from Cairns to Dallas via Nadi, making it easier than ever for travelers to access North America.”

Delta Air Lines' service between Tampa International Airport and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will be extended through the summer 2025 season. The airline’s seasonal daily route—which launched Oct. 26 and was originally scheduled to end on March 29, 2025—was extended to operate four times per week between through May 2025. It has now been extended further until October. Flights will operate using Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

EasyJet is launching 26 new routes during the summer 2025 season, including 21 from 10 UK airports. The additions include service between London Gatwick and Cape Verde, which will begin on March 31 and operate three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Our continued growth and investment in the UK and the connectivity we offer our customers highlights the importance of the market for us, where this year we operated more flying than ever before,” easyJet UK Country Manager Ali Gayward says. 

Nov. 19

Etihad Airways will end its codeshare and frequent flyer partnership with Virgin Australia effective June 1, 2025. The move comes after Qatar Airways in October confirmed its intention to purchase a minority stake in Virgin Australia. Etihad customers will no longer be able to book Virgin Australia-operated flights through Etihad’s booking channels. However, itineraries for passengers with existing bookings that include Virgin Australia-operated flights will remain unchanged. Despite the end of the partnership, Etihad reaffirmed its commitment to the Australian market, where plans to increase flights to Sydney and Melbourne during the summer 2025 season.

IndiGo will begin daily nonstop flights between Chennai and Penang on Dec. 21, 2024, marking its third direct destination in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. The airline will also resume its Bengaluru-Kuala Lumpur route on the same day. “IndiGo will now operate 28 weekly flights from India to Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia,” IndiGo Head of Global Sales Vinay Malhotra says. “This expansion underscores IndiGo's commitment to connecting not just major hubs, but also emerging destinations like Langkawi and Penang, offering options for business as well as leisure.” Additionally, the LCC has commenced flights to its 35th international destination—Mauritius. Bengaluru-Mauritius will be served 4X-weekly.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plans to begin a new route connecting Bilbao Airport and Copenhagen in summer 2025, according to the Department of Transport, Mobility and Tourism of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. The route, supported by Bilbao Air and the Bilbao Chamber of Commerce, will operate twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays, from late June to mid-August, with a potential extension through October.

St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport has reported that China Eastern Airlines will expand its Shanghai route from 7X to 10X-weekly flights during summer 2025, with plans to eventually increase service to 14 flights per week. Meanwhile, Hainan Airlines will boost its St. Petersburg-Beijing flights from 2X to 7X-weekly. Hainan Airlines also intends to enhance connectivity from China’s Hainan province by launching new routes from Sanya and Haikou.

Canada’s Air Transat has become the latest carrier to suspend flights to and from Port-au-Prince (PAP) due to the “increase in violence in Haiti.” This comes after all three U.S. airlines serving PAP—American Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines—confirmed that aircraft were struck by gunfire on Nov. 11. Air Transat says flights to Haiti will be canceled through Jan. 15, 2025. “We continue to closely monitor the situation and will share any relevant updates as soon as possible,” the airline says.

Nov. 18

AirAsia has launched flights between Kuala Lumpur and Sri Vijaya Puram, formerly known as Port Blair, India. Service will be 6X-weekly. “By flying this new route to Sri Vijaya Puram, we are supporting the Indian government's target of over 10 million foreign tourist arrivals by the end of this year, as well as the Tourism 2047 vision, which aims to increase inbound tourism tenfold,” AirAsia Malaysia Managing Director Fareh Mazputra says. The LCC will be the sole operator of the route. Meanwhile, AirAsia X has opened its first route to Africa. Kuala Lumpur-Nairobi flights will be offered four times per week. “This new direct connection between Kuala Lumpur and Nairobi presents a tremendous opportunity for growth in tourism, trade, educational exchanges and people-to-people ties between our two counties,” says Malaysia's High Commissioner to Kenya Ekitela Moru.

Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) has commenced scheduled service to Tokushima, Japan. This new service will operate three times per week every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. “We are committed to developing the Japanese market seriously,” GBA CEO Liza Ng says. “With this Tokushima route and the Sendai service to be launched next month, GBA's network will reach out to five cities in Japan.” No other airlines serve Hong Kong-Tokushima at present.

Hawaiian Airlines has resumed seasonal Auckland-Honolulu flights. The service will operate three times per week using 278-seat Airbus A330 aircraft through April 30, 2025. Hawaiian Airlines has served the Auckland market since March 2013. Russell Williss, country director for New Zealand at Hawaiian Airlines, described Auckland as an “important part” of the carrier’s network.

Mexican ULCC Volaris has announced plans to launch a 3X-weekly Zacatecas-Oakland service on July 2, 2025. Zacatecas will become the airline’s eighth destination from Oakland, alongside new additions to Monterrey and Los Cabos. “With the new service added, Volaris becomes the top carrier to Mexico from the San Francisco Bay area,” says Port of Oakland Director of Aviation Craig Simon.