Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Nov. 25, 2024)

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

Nov. 29

Canada’s Air Transat has unveiled its summer 2025 schedule, which includes a new route to Spain. Service between Montreal and Valencia will begin on June 20, operating weekly until Oct. 3. Valencia will become the fourth city in Spain to be served by the carrier alongside Barcelona, Madrid and Malaga. Additionally, Air Transat plans to increase frequencies on several other routes next summer, including expanding Toronto-Amsterdam from 4X to 7X-weekly; Quebec-Paris from 4X to 5X-weekly; and Montreal-Orlando from 6X to 10X-weekly.

Aarhus Airport, Denmark, has confirmed that Norwegian plans to operate three routes to Spain next summer. Flights to Alicante will be weekly from April 4, 2025, through Oct. 24; Malaga will be weekly from April 5 through Oct. 25; and Palma de Mallorca will be weekly from June 26 through Aug. 14. “This year we have experienced a monthly increase of over 75% in travelers to Spain and a growing demand for precisely the three destinations that attract guests from all over Jutland,” says Lotta Sandsgaard, director of Aarhus Airport.

Nov. 28

EasyJet is set to expand its operations at Birmingham, Edinburgh and Liverpool airports in the UK for the summer 2025 season. At Birmingham Airport (BHX), the LCC will base two additional Airbus A320 aircraft, bringing its fleet at the airport to five. EasyJet launched its base at BHX in March 2024. At Edinburgh Airport (EDI), the airline plans to station a 10th Airbus A320. It has also announced a new 2X-weekly route to Zurich as part of its summer 2025 schedule. Other new routes from EDI include Dusseldorf, Germany; Enfidha, Tunisia; Marrakech, Morocco; and Olbia, Italy. At Liverpool Airport (LPL), easyJet will base an eighth aircraft, having added a seventh A320 to its fleet at the airport ahead of the winter 2024-25 season. The LCC recorded an 18% year-on-year increase in passenger traffic at LPL in 2024.

Transavia France has been authorized by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation to launch scheduled operations between France and Saudi Arabia. The LCC intends to offer two routes to Jeddah from Dec. 12, flying twice a week from both Lyon and Paris Orly.

UK leisure carrier Jet2.com is adding Palermo, Sicily, to its Italian network during the summer 2026 season. The airline plans to offer flights from Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle. Service from Manchester will be twice a week, while Birmingham and Newcastle will have a weekly service. Palermo will become Jet2’s 10th destination in Italy.

China Southern Airlines has resumed service between Guangzhou and Perth, Australia. Flights will operate three times a week to the Routes Asia 2025 host on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. “China already represents Western Australia’s fourth biggest market with 75,000 visitors in FY2024 injecting A$328 million ($213 million) into the economy and we know that nonstop services will have a positive impact to visitation numbers,” Perth Airport Chief Commercial and Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove says.

Turkish Airlines has announced its intention to launch a new route between Istanbul Airport and Ohrid, North Macedonia. The Star Alliance member says the planned addition is subject to “market conditions.” Two carriers currently offer scheduled service from Ohrid, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. Wizz Air flies to Dortmund and Memmingen in Germany, as well as Vienna, while Chair Airlines service Zurich.

LOT Polish Airlines has opened a new route connecting Warsaw and Tenerife, Spain. The winter season service will be offered three times per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Boeing 737-8 aircraft.

Nov. 27

British Airways is adding three new Italian routes during the summer 2025 season, bringing the total number of Italian destinations served by the carrier to 19. Flights between London Heathrow Airport (LHR) and Routes Europe 2026 host Rimini will begin on May 15, 2025, operating three times per week. The addition comes just weeks after easyJet announced plans to commence London-Rimini service next summer. British Airways’ London Gatwick-based subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, will operate three flights per week to Salerno in the Campania Region from May 22, while the airline’s London City-based subsidiary, BA Cityflyer, will add a weekly service to Olbia from May 25, increasing to 2X-weekly from July 16. “Last month, we saw a 10% increase in searches for summer flights to Italy compared to 2023, so we’re pleased to be offering an even bigger choice of destinations next year,” British Airways Chief Planning and Strategy Officer Neil Chernoff says.

Omani LCC SalamAir is launching a route to Nairobi, Kenya, during the first quarter of 2025. Flights between Muscat and Nairobi will start in February, operating twice a week. “Nairobi is not only a hub for international travelers but also a growing center for business, technology, and education, making it a vital link for those looking to connect with opportunities in both regions, emphasizing Nairobi’s position as the key gateway to East Africa,” SalamAir CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns says.

Hong Kong Airlines will resume its Gold Coast, Australia, service on Jan. 17, 2025, followed by a route to Vancouver, Canada, the next day. Gold Coast will be served four times per week, while Vancouver will receive two flights per week. “This strategic move signifies the airline's transformation from a regional carrier to an international airline, with a focus on expanding its global route network,” a statement from the carrier says.

Brazil’s GOL and Royal Air Maroc have launched a codeshare agreement, covering the airlines' networks in Brazil and Morocco. The agreement will also enable GOL to sell interline connections to more than 20 destinations in Africa operated by Royal Air Maroc. 

Nov. 26

Brussels Airlines is ramping up operations for the summer 2025 season, adding new destinations, increased capacity, and additional aircraft. The airline will operate 50 aircraft—up from 44 in summer 2024—including four Airbus A220s wet-leased from airBaltic. The network expands to 91 destinations, with an 18% capacity increase on short- and medium-haul routes. Funchal, Madeira, is a new addition, offering weekly flights starting April 2025. Extra frequencies will be added to Faro and Porto in Portugal, as well as Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Valencia in Spain. Brussels Airlines will also take over Lufthansa routes from Brussels to Munich and Frankfurt, as well as Swiss flights to Zurich and Geneva. Other destinations that will receive higher frequencies are Vilnius, Lithuania, and Tanger, Morocco, while Birmingham, England, becomes year-round.

Air Astana and Etihad Airways have signed a codeshare agreement, effective Nov. 26. The agreement allows Air Astana passengers access to Etihad Airways flights to destinations including Mumbai, Riyadh, Cairo, Doha, and Muscat, via Abu Dhabi. It comes after Air Astana launched flights to Abu Dhabi from Astana in October, with service from Almaty starting on Dec. 5.

VietJet will begin daily flights between Hanoi and Kuala Lumpur, starting Nov. 28. This marks the airline's second connection between Vietnam and Malaysia, complementing the existing Ho Chi Minh City–Kuala Lumpur route. Together, they will offer 14 weekly flights. “The launch of this new route comes as Vietnam and Malaysia elevate their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, creating new opportunities for collaboration and development,” a statement from VietJet says.

Australia’s Jetstar will resume its seasonal domestic service between Cairns and Newcastle from July 2 to Oct. 24, 2025, offering three flights per week Airbus A320 aircraft.

LCC flydubai has announced a new seasonal summer route to Al Alamein International Airport in Egypt, becoming the first carrier to offer direct flights from Dubai to the destination. The daily flights will operate between June 21 and Sept. 7, 2025. “Flydubai remains committed to stimulating free flows of trade and tourism in underserved markets and supporting Dubai's aviation hub,” flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith says. With the addition of its summer operations to Al Alamein, the airline will grow its network in Egypt to three destinations.

Nov. 25

Canada’s Porter Airlines opened service between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida. The YOW-TPA route will be operated 4X-weekly on a seasonal basis with an Embraer E195-E2 aircraft configured to carry 132 passengers. The carrier is also set to launch service on Nov. 28 between YOW and Fort Myers, Florida. That route will be flown 3X-weekly on a seasonal basis with an E195-E2. Porter already serves Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in Florida from the Canadian capital.

The FAA has revised its restriction on flights to Haiti, allowing U.S. airlines to operate to the northern part of the Caribbean nation. On Nov. 12, the FAA barred U.S. aircraft from flying below 10.000 feet in Haiti’s airspace after gunfire hit three aircraft operated by U.S. airlines—American Airlines, Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways—over Port-au-Prince’s Touissant L’Overture Airport (PAP) on Nov. 11. The revised order still prohibits flights in the south of the county near the capital until at least Dec. 12. But airlines can now fly to Cap-Haïtien, Haiti’s second largest city, on the northern coast, located around 125 mi. north of Port-au-Prince. Spirit serves Cap Haïtien International Airport (CAP). Meanwhile, Haitian carrier Sunrise Airways, which has suspended service at PAP, is moving more operations to CAP. Some Sunrise international routes that had been served from PAP will move to CAP, including flights to Panama City, Panama; Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; and Caribbean island Saint Martin.

Delta Air Lines will start service on May 7, 2025 between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) in Florida. Flights will be operated by regional carrier SkyWest Airlines under contract with Delta. SkyWest will use an Embraer E175 configured to carry 76 passengers to fly the AUS-JAX route daily. No airline currently connects the cities nonstop.