The latest airline route news, featuring network changes, schedule alterations, codeshares and interline agreements.
Jan. 28
Pegasus Airlines will launch its first-ever route to Aarhus Airport (AAR), Denmark, from Antalya, Turkey, starting May 9. The service will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. “The direct route between Antalya and Aarhus has long been in demand by tour operators, holiday-makers and people with Turkish roots, who already know Pegasus Airlines for their high service and low prices,” AAR CEO Lotta Sandsgaard says. She adds the new route is expected to attract travelers from the region who currently fly from Copenhagen or Hamburg.
Canada’s Porter Airlines will launch year-round service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport starting May 1, with up to three daily roundtrip flights. The route will operate from LaGuardia’s newly redeveloped Terminal B and will utilize Porter’s 132-seat Embraer 195-E2 aircraft. The addition complements the airline’s existing New York operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, where the airline has served the market since 2008. Combined, Porter will offer up to 15 daily roundtrips in the New York-New Jersey area.
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will launch a 3X-weekly nonstop route between Manila and Beijing Capital International Airport starting March 30. The service will operate using Airbus A321 aircraft. It adds to PAL’s existing network in mainland China, with daily flights to Shanghai, Xiamen and Quanzhou. “We believe that the Manila-Beijing service will help boost tourism, enhance trade and deepen the friendly ties between the Filipino and Chinese people,” PAL President and CCO Stanley K. Ng says.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways will launch a third daily flight to Milan starting Nov. 1. The combined triple-daily service will see the airline offer 12,600 seats per week between Abu Dhabi and Milan, representing a year-on-year capacity increase of almost 115%. The services will operate on Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A321LR aircraft.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has launched new domestic routes in Sweden connecting Stockholm Arlanda Airport with Halmstad City Airport and Kalmar Öland Airport. Flights are operated by the carrier’s wet-lease partner Braathens Regional Airlines. "We are very pleased to begin operations to Halmstad and Kalmar, as this is a natural step in SAS' long-term commitment to enhancing travel options within Sweden and internationally,” says SAS Vice President for Global Sales Edward Fotheringham.
Jan. 27
Delta Air Lines will restart daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) on April 1, utilizing its Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The airline says the decision to restart flights to Israel “follows a comprehensive security review, conducted in close coordination with government and private-sector partners.” Delta also has a codeshare agreement in place with El Al Israel Airlines that enables Delta passengers to book El Al’s nonstop flights to Tel Aviv from major U.S. cities such as JFK, Newark, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Wizz Air has announced an expansion in Romania’s capital Bucharest, adding two Airbus A321neo aircraft and establishing a permanent base at Bucharest Baneasa Aurel Vlaicu International Airport (BBU). Starting April 1, the ULCC will start based operations from BBU with one A321neo and launch routes to Abu Dhabi from March 30; London Luton from April 1; and Warsaw from June 9. Additionally, the carrier will station an additional aircraft at its existing Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP) base and open new routes to Gran Canaria from June 17; Frankfurt Hahn from Aug. 1; and Friedrichshafen from Aug. 2. Nine routes from OTP will also see increased frequencies. Overall, the expansion brings Wizz’s Bucharest-based fleet to 21 aircraft and supports an 18% capacity increase for summer 2025, adding nearly 750,000 seats.
Norse Atlantic Airways is launching a new route between Athens International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). From June 3, flights will run four times a week, operated using Boeing 787 aircraft. “We expect the uptake to be positive as we offer this budget-friendly route, opening up more transatlantic options for our customers and the opportunity to explore the ancient city of Athens and rich history of Los Angeles,” says Norse founder and CEO Bjørn Tore Larsen.
South Korea’s Air Premia has inaugurated a route between Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Da Nang, Vietnam. Flights will be 4X-weekly on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Additionally, the airline has commenced a route connecting ICN and Hong Kong International Airport. Frequencies will also be 4X-weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Armenian Airlines is opening a new route between Yerevan and New Delhi from Feb. 21, becoming the sole nonstop flight between Armenia and India. Flights will be offered twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays using Airbus A321 equipment. The flight duration on the eastbound leg is about 4 hr. 40 min., while the return journey is 5 hr. 10 min. Armenian Airlines says passengers will be able to connect via Yerevan to points in Russia, including Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport.
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