Aug. 5
Jetstar Asia will increase the number of services it operates to Bangkok and Manila in August. Between Singapore (SIN) and Manila (MNL), two additional morning services on Sunday and Monday will be operated, meaning the LCC will offer 13 flights a week to the Philippines’ capital. From Aug. 6, Jetstar Asia will operate an additional Saturday morning service between Singapore and Bangkok (BKK), increasing the route to eight return services a week. Starting Aug. 19, the airline will also re-time two services between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to depart on Friday and Sunday evenings instead of Wednesday and Sunday mornings.
Finnair is launching new nonstop flights from Helsinki (HEL) to Mumbai (BOM) in India on Aug. 6. The route will operate 3X-weekly using A330s, increasing to 4X-weekly in November. It becomes the airline’s second service to India alongside a daily operation from HEL to Delhi (DEL). “Our three-weekly flights serve our customers not only in providing a connection to Finland but also to our network in the US and major European cities,” Finnair general manager for India Sakari Romu said. Flights will depart Helsinki at 5.55 p.m., arriving into Mumbai at 5.15 a.m. the following morning. The return flight departs the Indian city at 7.10 a.m., arriving into Finnair’s home at 2.05 p.m.
KLM will operate direct service between Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) and Rovaniemi (RVN) in northern Finland every Saturday from Dec. 3 through March 25, 2023. The airline will deploy a Boeing 737-800 on this route, which can carry up to 186 passengers. Rovaniemi in Lapland is KLM’s second destination in Finland after Helsinki (HEL).
Breeze Airways has debuted service to San Francisco (SFO) from both Provo (PVU) in Utah, which now serves as the US carrier’s first west coast base, and San Bernardino (SBD) in California. Flights on each route will be daily. The SFO-SBD sees Breeze become the first commercial airline to serve San Bernardino.
Aug. 4
Spirit Airlines has launched service to Albuquerque (ABQ) for the first time. The new route offers daily flights to Routes World 2022 host Las Vegas (LAS). “Albuquerque makes for a great debut into New Mexico, offering our guests affordable and easy access to the vibrant culture and unique recreational activities found in the Duke City," said John Kirby, VP of network planning at Spirit.
German leisure carrier Condor has inaugurated a route between Frankfurt (FRA) and Alicante (ALC) in Spain. Flights will be 3X-weekly during the current summer season on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays using Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. OAG data shows that Lufthansa also serves the route three times per week.
Saudia has launched operations to Zurich (ZRH) in Switzerland from Riyadh (RUH). The sector will be served 2X-weekly onboard A320s. The launch of the route has been made possible thanks to Saudi Arabia’s National Air Connectivity Program. The scheme, funded by the country’s Public Investment Fund, offers airlines financial incentives to fly routes that have so far been deemed unprofitable. Through the program, Saudia also began a route from Riyadh to Barcelona (BCN) in July.
Aug. 3
Jet2.com has announced plans to double its flying program to Nice (NCE) from Birmingham (BHX), Leeds Bradford (LBA) and Manchester (MAN) in the UK during the summer 2023 season. A new BHX-NCE route will launch on May 26 through Oct. 16, operating twice a week. A second weekly service will also be introduced between LBA and NCE from May 26, while extra Monday and Friday services between MAN and NCE will be added from Sept. 8-25, meaning two daily services on these days during this period.
Spain’s Air Europa has signed an interline agreement with Colombian ULCC Viva Air. The partnership will allow Air Europa passengers to connect from Bogota (BOG) and Medellin (MDE) to 18 destinations in Colombia served by Viva, including Cali (CLO), Monteria (MTR) and Pereira (PEI). In addition, Air Europa will offer flights from Lima (LIM) to Cusco (CUZ), a domestic destination served by Viva in Peru. “This broad domestic network of new destinations consolidates our brand and position and opens up new international opportunities,” Air Europa director of alliances and customer experience Estelle Leray said.
Indian carrier Vistara has inaugurated a new route connecting Mumbai (BOM) and Jeddah (JED) in Saudi Arabia. The airline, a joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will operate three flights per week between the two cities using Airbus A320neos. “Given the multitude of upcoming futuristic projects in Saudi Arabia, strong trade ties with India and presence of large Indian diaspora, there is growing traffic between the two countries,” Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan said. Flights will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing BOM at 6.05 p.m. and arriving in JED at 8.50 p.m. The return service departs at 9.50 p.m. and arrives back in BOM at 5.30 a.m. the following day.
Aug. 2
Ethiopian Airlines has scheduled the launch of a new route to Amman (AMM) in Jordan. Flights from its Addis Ababa (ADD) hub will begin on Oct. 31, operating three times per week using Boeing 737-800s. According to OAG data, the airline will be the sole operator of the 2,544-km (1,581-mi.) route. Service will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
US-based United Airlines is to resume service between New York Newark (EWR) and Peru’s capital Lima (LIM), a route which has been suspended since the onset of the pandemic. Flights are set to restart on Oct. 30 and will be daily onboard 757-200s. LATAM Airlines Group also serves the New York-Lima market, flying from LIM to New York John F Kennedy (JFK).
Scoot is to begin a Singapore (SIN)-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK)-Tokyo Narita (NRT) service on Oct. 30. OAG data shows that the 2,181-km (1,355-mi.) route will be served daily using 787-9s. The airline will also maintain its daily SIN-NRT nonstop service, as well as a 4X-weekly Singapore-Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE)-Tokyo Narita route.
Aug. 1
Finnair is returning to Guangzhou (CAN) in China from Sept. 6. Flights will operate once a week from Helsinki (HEL) using Airbus A350 aircraft, flying from Finland’s capital on Tuesdays and from Guangzhou on Thursdays. The airline suspended the route at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. “We are excited to return to Guangzhou and look forward to gradually increasing our offering for the Chinese market,” said Ole Orvér, CCO at Finnair. The oneworld alliance member also flies to Shanghai once a week.
Indian LCC IndiGo has started flights to Bahrain (BAH). The route from Mumbai (BOM) will operate daily with A321s. Bahrain becomes the 25th international destination in the airline’s network and its 99th overall. “The introduction of this new route will further strengthen the historic ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and India, making it more convenient for passengers traveling between our countries for business and leisure,” Bahrain Airport Company CCO Ayman Zainal said.
Emirates has restarted flights from Dubai (DXB) to London Stansted (STN). The airline last operated the sector in March 2020. It has resumed operations with EK065 leaving Dubai at 8.50 a.m., arriving at Stansted at 1.30 p.m. on Aug. 1. EK068 will then depart Stansted at 9.10 p.m. and arrive in Dubai at 7.10 a.m. the following day. Operations will initially be 5X-weekly with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, but the carrier said it has “advanced plans to increase capacity” to a daily service. In addition, Emirates has announced that from Oct. 30, its Newcastle (NCL) service will revert to pre-COVID schedule to operate as EK035/036 in the morning, which it said would “improving connectivity and offer customers better travel options.”
Air China is launching a new route to Kazakhstan. According to Nur-Sultan International (NQZ), flights from Chengdu will start on Aug. 7, operating once a week on Sundays using A320s. The flight duration is 5 hr. and 45 min.
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