The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Sept. 26
China Southern Airlines has commenced a new route to Serbia. The airline has opened flights between Guangzhou and Belgrade, operating twice a week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Air Serbia is also scheduled to launch flights between the cities on Sept. 30 using Airbus A330-200s.
Air New Zealand is resuming flights between Auckland and Hobart from Oct. 27. Flights will be three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, marking the return of international services to Tasmania. The carrier plans to deploy Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft on the route. “Hobart is our ninth Australian destination, and it's great to once again be offering our customers the option to travel there for another season over the warmer months,” says Jeremy O'Brien, Air New Zealand general manager for international.
Icelandair is expanding its seasonal nonstop service between Reykjavik and Pittsburgh when the route returns in 2025. Operations will restart on April 17, 2025—almost one month sooner than the route's initial launch that took place in May of this year. The airline will continue to operate the service to the Pennsylvania city four times a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. “This demonstrates the strength of the Pittsburgh business market in Europe and shows airlines, including Icelandair, that this region is serious about growing business and leisure connections to Iceland, Europe and beyond,” PIT CEO Christina Cassotis says.
Korean Air has announced an increase in the frequency of its flights to destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Bali in Indonesia, and Nha Trang and Phu Quoc in Vietnam, to meet “the expected growing demand” for the upcoming winter season. Starting Oct. 20, the airline will increase service on the Seoul Incheon-Bali route from 11X-weekly flights to 2X-daily flights using Boeing 787-10s. Seoul Incheon-Nha Trang will rise from daily to 2X-daily from Oct. 27, while the Seoul Incheon-Phu Quoc route will also be increased to two daily flights from Dec. 15. Operations to Kagoshima, Japan, and Taichung, Taiwan, will also be daily during the winter 2024-25 season.
Sept. 25
LATAM Airlines Brazil is adding two new routes to Chile’s capital Santiago. Service from Fortaleza will commence on Nov. 30, while flights from Recife will start on Dec. 6. Both routes will operate once a week. “In the third quarter of 2024 alone, the volume of [LATAM] flights between Chile and Brazil increased by more than 65% compared to the third quarter of last year,” says María Paz Villasante, commercial strategy manager. Each new route is projected to transport approximately 14,500 passengers in the first year of operation. Additionally, LATAM Airlines Brazil plans to launch Sao Paulo-Fernando de Noronha service in 2025, operating using Airbus A319 aircraft.
Colombia’s Avianca is launching its first flights to Tulum, Mexico. Operations from Bogotá will begin on Dec. 10 with three flights per week using Airbus A320 aircraft. "2024 has been a historic year for our route network in Bogotá with the return of iconic destinations such as Caracas, Paris, Montreal, Chicago and Aeroparque (Buenos Aires) and soon Tulum,” says David Alemán, Avianca sales director for Colombia and South America.
Allegiant Air is to resume a seasonal Orlando Sanford-Wichita service from Nov. 23 through Jan. 5, 2025. Flights will be twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.
Air Greenland has added service to Denmark to its summer 2025 schedule. Flights will connect Nuuk with Billund, Denmark, twice a week from March 18 through Oct. 23. One weekly frequency will be operated with a stopover in Reykjavik Keflavik. Additionally, a Nukk-Aalborg route will be offered from June 18, flying weekly through Aug. 27. Both routes will use Jettime’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Germany’s Condor has resumed flights to Thailand, with the operation of four flights a week from Frankfurt to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and three flights a week to Phuket using Airbus A330neo equipment. Thailand welcomed about 739,000 German tourists in 2023 and expects to attract almost 980,000 in 2024, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels.
Sept. 24
Delta Air Lines will commence a new codeshare agreement with new SkyTeam partner Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) from Sept. 25. As reported by Aviation Week, the airlines secured approval for the partnership earlier this month. Delta customers flying from North America will gain additional access to 50 destinations in northern Europe beyond SAS’ hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. Meanwhile, SAS passengers will gain access to more than 150 destinations in North America via Delta’s hubs in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle. SAS joined SkyTeam on Sept. 1 following its departure from Star Alliance.
Emirates plans to increase frequencies between Dubai and Johannesburg from March 1, 2025. The airline will offer one additional daily flight using Boeing 777-300ER equipment, taking the service to 4X-daily. “We'd like to extend our thanks to the South African authorities for their partnership and support in securing this new service, which reinstates the capacity we offered South Africa pre-pandemic, with 49 weekly flights, across three gateways,” Emirates Deputy President and CCO Adnan Kazim says.
AirAsia Cambodia is adding an international route from Siem Reap to Singapore. Commencing on Nov. 9, frequencies will be daily. “This new route direct to Singapore signifies the start of a broader group strategy supporting the revival of the tourism industry and a new era for international services to and from Cambodia,” AirAsia Aviation Group CEO Bo Lingam says. Meanwhile, Thai AirAsia X has announced plans to operate up to 3X-weekly flights between Bangkok Don Mueang and Harbin, China. Service will be offered from Dec. 24 through Feb. 8, 2025, using Airbus A330 aircraft.
Caribbean Airlines is adding flights to Tortola, British Virgin Islands, commencing on Oct. 14. The airline will offer a Port of Spain-Antigua-Tortola-San Juan, Puerto Rico, service twice a week. There will also be a 2X-weekly Port of Spain-Bridgetown-Tortola-San Juan service. “Our new service to Tortola is a significant step in our growth strategy, and we are committed to providing seamless travel experiences for our passengers,” Caribbean Airlines CEO Garvin Medera says. “By the end of this year, Caribbean Airlines will link the Spanish, French, Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean with each other, as well as the North American diaspora and business and leisure travelers who wish to explore our vibrant region.”
Transavia France will introduce a new service connecting Paris Orly and Tbilisi, Georgia, from April 9, 2025. Flights will be 2X-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. “After a record summer in terms of passengers transported, we are delighted to continue our development for the coming seasons,” says Nicolas Hénin, deputy general manager for sales and marketing. “We are aiming for growth of around 15% in the summer of 2025, with a focus on consolidating our position at Orly.”
Sept. 23
American Airlines has requested an extension of the U.S. Transportation Department dormancy waiver for unused U.S.-China frequencies. The airline says it does not intend to use 14 of its frequencies between the countries during the winter 2024-25 season. As previously reported, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have already requested waivers for 28 and 42 of their unused frequencies, respectively. American currently operates seven of the 21 weekly frequencies allocated to it, flying daily between Dallas-Fort Worth and Shanghai Pudong. Additionally, the carrier has also requested a temporary dormancy waiver for frequencies on four routes between the U.S. and Cuba. They are from Miami to Havana (3X-weekly); Santa Clara (Daily); Santiago de Cuba (2X-weekly); and Varadero (2X-weekly).
Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) is adding two new scheduled routes from Hong Kong to Japan. The carrier currently serves Tokushima and Sendai on a charter basis, but the flights will be converted to a scheduled service starting Nov. 16 and Dec. 7, respectively. “GBA's direct flights can now bring greater convenience to travelers who no longer need to take a Shinkansen train or a transfer flight from major cities such as Osaka and Tokyo,” a statement from the carrier says.
Japan’s Zipair is increasing frequencies between Tokyo Narita and Vancouver. The number of flights will rise from four to five per week starting on March 9, 2025.
Ethiopian Airlines has announced plans to increase service between Addis Ababa and Rome Fiumicino from daily to 10X-weekly from Dec. 1. The carrier confirmed the move during celebrations for its 60th anniversary of serving the Italian capital. “This milestone is a testament to our unwavering dedication to connecting people and fostering economic growth between Africa and Europe,” group CEO Mesfin Tasew says.
China’s Shenzhen Airlines is adding a new route to Qatar. Flights from Shenzhen to Doha will start on Oct. 29, operating three times per week. The carrier will deploy Airbus A330-300 aircraft on the route. It will become the sole provider of nonstop service between the cities.
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