Get ready for an exciting journey as we explore the latest airline routes that have taken the aviation world by storm!
The Sky's the Limit: Unveiling the Week's Most Anticipated Flights
In this week's edition, we dive into six captivating stories, each highlighting unique and thrilling airline services that have recently taken off. From October 28th to November 3rd, the aviation industry witnessed some remarkable developments, and we're here to bring you all the details.
United's Pacific Adventure and the Return to Israel
On October 29th, United Airlines inaugurated a new route from Koror, Palau, to Tokyo Narita. This route, covering an impressive 1,728 nautical miles each way, is a significant addition to United's network. Palau, known for its inbound tourism, especially water-related activities, is a high-yield market despite its smaller size. United now offers twice-weekly flights on the 737-800, filling the gap left by Japan Airlines and Delta, which previously served this route.
But here's where it gets controversial... United's return to Israel is a topic of discussion. On November 1st and 2nd, the airline resumed services from Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles to Tel Aviv, operating four and three weekly flights, respectively, on the 787-8. However, both routes were suspended in 2023 due to certain reasons. With a 28% share of all US-Tel Aviv flights in November, United's network is still recovering, as the San Francisco-Tel Aviv route remains suspended. Next year, American and Delta will further reduce United's share with their planned returns from New York JFK, Atlanta, and Boston.
American, JetBlue, and Southwest: A Four-Day Route Blitz
In a remarkable four-day span, these three carriers launched an impressive eight new routes. On October 30th, JetBlue took off from Orlando to Las Vegas, offering twice-daily flights with Mint-equipped aircraft. This marks the first time JetBlue has served this market, replacing Spirit Airlines, which ceased operations on the route on November 1st.
Two days later, JetBlue relaunched three routes from Fort Lauderdale: Atlanta (three daily flights, up from 19 weekly), New Orleans (twice daily, up from 12 weekly), and Pittsburgh (daily). Meanwhile, Southwest launched Chicago O'Hare-Tampa flights on November 2nd, offering daily services and bringing the market back to five carriers with up to 14 daily flights. American Airlines also recommenced two links on the same day: Chicago O'Hare-San Jose (Costa Rica) and New York LaGuardia-Fort Lauderdale, with daily and two to three daily flights, respectively. American Eagle restarted Miami-Sarasota flights, operating daily on Envoy Air's E175s.
Trans-Tasman Expansion: Adelaide's New Connections
Air New Zealand has made history by starting the first-ever nonstop service from Christchurch to Adelaide. This A320 operation runs twice weekly, covering 1,653 nautical miles each way, making it South Australia's shortest international link. Qantas, too, resumed flights from Adelaide to Auckland on October 31st, offering daily services on the 737-800 and competing with Air New Zealand.
LOT Polish's Moroccan Adventure
LOT Polish Airlines has been on a growth spree this year, adding multiple cities to its network. On October 29th, the carrier inaugurated its first-ever service to Marrakech from its Warsaw Chopin hub. The twice-weekly 737-800 service runs until May, directly competing with Wizz Air, which has served the market since 2018. With a distance of 1,769 nautical miles, it has become LOT Polish's longest scheduled African service, surpassing the distance to Cairo by a significant margin.
Air Transat's South American Exploration
The Canadian leisure carrier, Air Transat, has expanded its presence in Colombia. On November 1st, Medellín, Colombia's second-most populous city, joined its network. Operating weekly A321neo flights from Toronto via Cartagena, Air Transat has taken a low-risk approach to this new route. Interestingly, both Toronto and Montreal now offer Medellín service, with a decent-sized market of 40,000 round-trip local passengers in 2024.
Turkish Airlines' Return to Sulamaniyah
Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Sulamaniyah, a city in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The airline operated this route from Istanbul between 2011 and 2023, with London, Manchester, Stockholm, Birmingham, and Gothenburg being the five most popular connecting markets in 2023. The route was temporarily suspended due to increased military threats and safety concerns. Now, Turkish Airlines has returned with a four-weekly 737-800 operation, which will increase to daily flights by the end of March. In November, the airline serves five Iraqi cities from Istanbul, offering six to eight daily flights.
So, there you have it! These new airline routes are not just about destinations; they represent the dynamic nature of the aviation industry. Which of these routes piques your interest the most? And do you think these developments will have a lasting impact on the industry? Feel free to share your thoughts and insights in the comments below!
