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

David Casey Aaron Karp March 22, 2024

starlux a350 — Credit: Agencja Fotograficzna Caro/Alamy Stock Photo

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

March 22

Alaska Airlines is adding a new connection to Las Vegas from Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) in California. The daily, year-round service begins on Oct. 1 and becomes the seventh nonstop route from STS. By this fall, Alaska will operate 13 peak-day departures, including nonstop service to Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, Seattle, Portland, San Diego and now Las Vegas. “With the expansion of Alaska’s options, we are not just opening up routes, we’re opening doors to new opportunities and experiences for our passengers,” says Kirsten Amrine, Alaska Airlines vice president of network planning and revenue management.

Starlux Airlines’ second transpacific route between Taiwanese capital Taipei (TPE) and San Francisco (SFO), which launched on Dec. 16, has increased from 3X-weekly to daily frequencies. The route is operated using Airbus A350 aircraft in a four-class configuration. “Given the current passenger demand, we're excited to increase the frequency of our SFO-TPE route, solidifying our commitment to continued expansion in the U.S. market,” Starlux CEO Glenn Chai says.

Eurowings plans to open a new route connecting Cologne, Germany, with Fes, Morocco. From July 13, the LCC will be flying every Saturday from Cologne/Bonn Airport to the northeastern Moroccan city.

Indonesia’s Lion Air has announced the launch of its first direct flights from Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar International Airport to Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport in Lombok. The new domestic service is scheduled for March 27.

ITA Airways intends to increase Rome Fiumicino-Athens flights from 3X to 4X-daily, starting on June 1. During the summer 2024 season, the airline plans to operate flights to 57 destinations, including 16 domestic, 26 international and 15 intercontinental points.

March 21

Frontier Airlines is launching two routes to San Juan, Puerto Rico. An 11X-weekly service from Newark (EWR) to San Juan will mark the airline's return to EWR after two years, and a 2X-daily service from New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) to San Juan will launch Frontier's first operation from JFK. The ULCC also plans to open a 2X-weekly Phoenix-San Jose Cabo, Mexico, service on May 16 and a 4X-weekly San Francisco-Santa Ana, California, route on July 11.

Avelo Airlines is expanding service from Connecticut's Tweed-New Haven Airport (HVN) with three new nonstop routes: Houston, St. Louis and Traverse City, Michigan. Service on each will begin in June. The airline has also confirmed it will base a sixth aircraft at HVN. “The addition of a sixth aircraft exemplifies Avelo’s continued growth in New Haven and the airline’s appeal to travelers from across Connecticut,” Avelo says in a statement.

VietJet is further increasing service to Australia with the addition of a Hanoi-Sydney route. This follows confirmation of a Hanoi-Melbourne service earlier this month. Launching on June 8, operations to Sydney will operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Hanoi. The Hanoi-Melbourne route will start on June 3, also operating 2X-weekly.

AirAsia X and Thai AirAsia plan to launch three fifth-freedom routes connecting Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, to Japan. AirAsia X will open a daily Taipei-Tokyo Narita service from May 31 with Airbus A330 aircraft. Thai AirAsia also plans to launch daily Taipei-Okinawa service from June 15, followed by a 4X-weekly Kaohsiung-Tokyo Narita route from June 16 using A320s.

March 20

Australia’s Bonza opened service between Gold Coast in Queensland and Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, with plans to operate the route 2X-weekly. Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans said the new route will “provide considerable economic, tourism and business opportunities between the regions,” adding: "The Gold Coast to Darwin route has long been an underserved market, so we are thrilled that Bonza has recognized its potential. This direct service signifies a new era of convenient connectivity for travelers—eliminating the need for [flight transfers] and more time to enjoy both regions.”

Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways have launched a codeshare agreement, with Virgin’s code being placed on Kenya Airways’ Nairobi-London Heathrow flights. In turn, Kenya Airways’ code will be placed on Virgin flights from Heathrow to Caribbean destinations, including Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Both carriers are members of SkyTeam. Julius Thairu, Kenya Airways’ chief commercial and customer officer, said the codeshare agreement will leverage the two carriers’ “complementary strengths and networks."

Hong Kong Airlines has resumed flights between Hong Kong and Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The route will be flown 2X-weekly with an Airbus A330 aircraft. Hong Kong Airlines previously operated to Saipan from 2016 to the end of 2019.

AirAsia will open three fifth-freedom routes connecting Taiwan and Japan, including between Taipei (TPE) and Tokyo Narita (NRT). AirAsia X will operate a Kuala Lumpur-TPE-NRT routing daily from May 31 with an Airbus A330 aircraft. Thai AirAsia will start flying a Bangkok (BKK)-TPE-Okinawa routing daily from June 15. Thai AirAsia will also start a 4X-weekly routing connecting BKK with Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and on to NRT from June 16. Both Thai AirAsia routes will be flown with A320 aircraft. “The launch of these fifth-freedom routes aligns with the airline’s focus on Taiwan as a virtual hub,” AirAsia says.

March 19

China’s Juneyao Air has announced plans to open two European routes from Shanghai Pudong. Flights to Brussels will launch on July 1, operating 3X-weekly, followed by a 3X-weekly Manchester service two days later. Both sectors will use Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Uzbekistan startup Air Samarkand will commence its scheduled flight program on March 21, operating fights between Samarkand and Istanbul Airport. The route will be served twice a week using Airbus A321neo aircraft. “Istanbul is one of the most sought-after destinations from Samarkand, connecting the largest city in Turkey with Uzbekistan through centuries-old cultural, business and tourism ties,” the airline says in a statement.

Korean Air is resuming flights to four cities in China, Europe and Southeast Asia. On April 2, the airline will restart a 3X-weekly flight between Seoul Incheon and Zurich, while April 23 sees the carrier reinstate a 3X-weekly Seoul Incheon-Zhangjiajie, China, service. On April 24, Seoul Incheon-Zhengzhou, China, operations will restart with four frequencies per week, followed by a daily Busan, South Korea-Bangkok service on April 25—returning after a four-year hiatus. Additionally, Korean Air plans to increase Seoul Incheon-Budapest, Hungary, from three to four flights per week; Seoul Incheon-Manila, Philippines, from 2X to 3X-daily; Seoul Incheon-Bali from 9X to 11X-weekly; and Seoul Incheon-Dallas from 4X-weekly to daily.

Royal Air Maroc is set to enhance its network by launching new routes from its Casablanca hub to Naples, Italy, Manchester, England, and Abuja, Nigeria, starting June 22. With two weekly flights to Naples, three to Manchester and three to Abuja, the airline aims to meet growing demand, especially from Moroccan communities abroad and tourists. These additions bolster the company's presence in Italy, Nigeria and the UK, aligning with its strategy to expand its continental footprint and promote Morocco as a tourist destination. Royal Air Maroc now offers a total of six direct connections and 43 weekly flights between Morocco and Italy, while expanding its African network to 27 destinations from its Casablanca hub.

EasyJet has opened its newest UK base at Birmingham Airport, marking its ninth base in the country. The airline's UK operations now constitute 56% of its total operation, with plans to operate its largest-ever UK program this year, including the addition of four aircraft to its UK-based fleet. The new base will enhance connectivity between Birmingham and primary European city airports, catering to both leisure and business travelers. EasyJet expects a nearly 60% increase in passenger numbers at Birmingham this year, with this summer season set to be the biggest ever for easyJet holidays.

March 18

LOT Polish Airlines has launched a new route connecting Warsaw Chopin Airport and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Flights will initially be offered three times per week using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. A fourth weekly rotation will operate in April and May. LOT Polish Airlines president Michał Fijoł described Uzbekistan as “one of the most intriguing countries in the world” and said the new route would increase tourism and economic cooperation between Poland and Uzbekistan.

BRA - Braathens Regional Airlines plans to launch two services from Visby Airport, Sweden. From July 3, flights to Angelholm and Norrkoping will be offered twice a week through Aug. 11. Operations will use a 72-seat ATR 72-600 aircraft. BRA completed a restructuring process earlier this month that included renegotiating customer and supplier agreements in parallel with “a number of activities to improve profitability.”

Ryanair’s summer 2024 schedule from Bologna, Italy, will include three new routes to Olbia, Reggio Calabria and Tirana. The airline also plans to increase frequencies on more than 10 routes. Overall, the ULCC’s schedule from the airport will comprise 65 routes and 11 based aircraft. “Ryanair continues to deliver more traffic, more jobs and offer lower fares than any other airline in Bologna and Italy,” Ryanair's Country Manager for Italy and the Eastern Mediterranean Mauro Bolla says.

Italy’s Aeroitalia has announced plans to launch domestic flights between Perugia and Lampedusa. The schedule will run from June 1 through Oct. 5, operating once a week.