The Most Notable New Airline Routes This Week

Welcome to the 130th edition of my weekly routes article, where some of the most exciting new airline services launched recently are explores. As always, additional notable route launches are listed at the bottom.

Lufthansa Expands in the US

On May 31, Lufthansa launched a new route from Munich to Seattle, complementing its long-established Frankfurt-Seattle service. The Munich-Seattle route covers 4,439 nautical miles (8,222 km) and operates three times weekly year-round with an Airbus A350-900. This makes Seattle one of 15 North American destinations served from Lufthansa's Munich hub this summer. On the same day, Lufthansa also upgraded its Munich-Washington Dulles route by replacing the Airbus A340-600 with the Airbus A380, marking the first time the superjumbo has been used on this route. This change significantly increased seat capacity, particularly in economy class.

Qatar Airways Launches Kinshasa Service

On June 1, Qatar Airways began flights to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, expanding its network to 29 African airports. The route is operated four times weekly using Boeing 787-8 aircraft. These flights operate in a triangular pattern with stops in Luanda, Angola, allowing passengers to fly non-stop between Qatar and the DRC. The new service aims to provide enhanced connectivity for travelers, particularly from key markets such as France, Belgium, the UAE, and China. This route is strategically important as it remains unserved by Emirates and flydubai, making Kinshasa Dubai's largest unserved market in sub-Saharan Africa.

Norse Atlantic Inaugurates Athens-New York Route

On May 30, Norse Atlantic Airways launched its first route to Greece, connecting Athens with New York JFK. The service is operated five times a week with a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This new route adds to the competitive landscape on the Athens-New York corridor, joining existing services from American Airlines, Delta, Emirates, and United. The route is notable for its early departure times, positioning it among the earliest scheduled transatlantic flights.

JetSMART Adds Buenos Aires-Montevideo Route

On May 29, JetSMART began flights between Buenos Aires Aeroparque and Montevideo, Uruguay. This short 119 nautical mile (221 km) route is operated with Airbus A320 aircraft and currently runs 13 times weekly, soon increasing to double daily. JetSMART faces competition from Aerolineas Argentinas, which operates multiple daily flights on this route. This launch marks the first time since 2020 that two airlines have served the Buenos Aires-Montevideo market.

Ethiopian Airlines Expands to Sierra Leone

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, commenced flights to Freetown, Sierra Leone, on May 31. The service runs three times weekly with a stop in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, using a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. This new route brings Ethiopian's African network to 78 airports. The flights are timed to connect with arrivals from Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe, enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling to and from Sierra Leone.

Prague-Tashkent Route Revived

After a 10-year hiatus, non-stop flights between Prague and Tashkent have resumed. The route is now operated by Uzbek carrier Qanot Sharq with weekly flights on an Airbus A321neo. This route revival caters to a small but significant market, with around 11,000 round-trip passengers last year. The flight operates with a block time of seven hours and provides a direct connection between the two cities.

Additional Notable Route Launches

Delta has restarted its Atlanta-Zurich service, Kenya Airways has returned to Nairobi after a nine-year absence, and Saudi Arabia's flynas has launched Dammam-Najaf flights. TUI has introduced a new Dalaman service from Teesside, and United has begun its first Washington Dulles-Anchorage service. Other notable launches include Air India's Delhi-Ho Chi Minh City route and Flair Airlines' Vancouver-Guadalajara service.

Want More?

For those interested in even more route launches, Juneyao Airlines has started flights from Shanghai Pudong to Penang, Allegiant has begun Dulles-Punta Gorda, and Sun Country has resumed Minneapolis-Providence. ITA Airways has also introduced its Rome-Riyadh service, among many other new routes worldwide.