Virgin Atlantic Opens London Heathrow–Phuket Nonstop, the Only Direct LHR–Thailand Service
Virgin Atlantic launches the only nonstop service from London Heathrow to Phuket on October 18, 2026, flying seasonally three times a week on a 258-seat Boeing 787-9 across three cabins.
Philippine Airlines Launches Manila–Mumbai Nonstop, Its First-Ever India West Coast Service
Philippine Airlines will launch an entirely new nonstop Manila–Mumbai route on December 15, 2026, flying four times weekly on the A321neo — a city pair PAL has never previously served nonstop.
Philippine Airlines Resumes Manila–Delhi Nonstop, First Direct Service Since 2013
Philippine Airlines will resume nonstop Manila–Delhi service on December 14, 2026 — the first direct link since 2013 — flying three times weekly on the Airbus A321neo, subject to Indian government approval.
Air New Zealand Resumes Year-Round Christchurch–Perth on Boeing 787-9 From November 2026
Air New Zealand resumes year-round Christchurch–Perth service on November 30, 2026, flying three times weekly on the Boeing 787-9 and joining Jetstar's seasonal A321LR on the corridor.
Greater Bay Airlines Launches Hong Kong–Surabaya, Its First Indonesia Route
Greater Bay Airlines launched its first Indonesia route on September 25, 2026, connecting Hong Kong to Surabaya's Juanda International Airport four times weekly on its Boeing 737-800 fleet.
Airlink Opens Cape Town–Zanzibar, First-Ever Nonstop to the Spice Island on New E195-E2
Airlink launches the first-ever nonstop link between Cape Town and Zanzibar on October 3, deploying its new Embraer E195-E2 on weekly Saturday flights covering 2,325 miles of Indian Ocean.
United Airlines Launches San Francisco–Sapporo, First US Nonstop to Hokkaido
United Airlines launches the first nonstop service from the continental United States to Sapporo, flying San Francisco–Hokkaido three times weekly from December 11 on a Boeing 787-9.
Air Canada Opens Montreal–Quito Nonstop on 787-8, First-Ever Direct Link to Ecuador's Capital
Air Canada launches the first-ever nonstop from Montreal to Quito, adding Ecuador's Andean capital to its network from Québec for the first time with three weekly Boeing 787-8 flights starting December 4.
Air Canada Connects Halifax and Barbados Nonstop for the First Time From December 17
Air Canada will launch the first-ever nonstop link between Atlantic Canada and Barbados on December 17, offering weekly Thursday service from Halifax to Bridgetown on the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Qantas Launches World's First Nonstop Sydney to Las Vegas Flights From December 29
Qantas launches the world's first nonstop service between Australia and Las Vegas on December 29, with the Boeing 787-9 covering the route in just under 14 hours three times weekly.
Volotea Adds Seville to Florence Route, Expanding Its Spanish-Italian Network
Volotea launched Seville to Florence service on September 21, adding Florence as the third Italian destination from its Seville base alongside Olbia and Verona.
Volotea Debuts Its First International Route From San Sebastian With New Florence Flights
Volotea launched the only direct flight between Italy and San Sebastian on September 21, marking Volotea's first international route from the Basque city.
Icelandair Launches Keflavik to Gdansk, Opening Its First-Ever Polish Route
Icelandair launched its first-ever route to Poland on September 18, connecting Keflavik with Gdansk three to four times weekly on the 737 MAX 8.
British Airways Launches Nonstop London Gatwick–Colombo Flights From 23 October 2026
British Airways launches new nonstop service between London Gatwick and Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 23 October 2026, operating three times weekly through the northern winter season on the Boeing 777-200ER.
Air Arabia KSA Begins Twice-Daily Dammam–Riyadh Flights in Saudi LCC's Historic Debut
Air Arabia KSA adds twice-daily low-cost flights between Dammam and Riyadh on 20 September 2026, bringing new competition to one of Saudi Arabia's busiest domestic corridors.
Air Arabia KSA Launches Twice-Daily Dammam–Jeddah Service as New Saudi LCC Takes Off
Saudi Arabia's newest low-cost carrier, Air Arabia KSA, begins twice-daily Airbus A320 flights between Dammam and Jeddah on 20 September 2026 as part of its inaugural three-route domestic launch.
Air Arabia KSA Opens Daily Dammam–Madinah Flights in New Saudi LCC's Inaugural Launch
Air Arabia KSA inaugurates daily Airbus A320 service between Dammam's King Fahd International Airport and Madinah on 20 September 2026, adding a low-cost option to a corridor shaped heavily by religious pilgrim demand.
Air Canada Launches Vancouver–Sapporo Nonstop From December 17 for Hokkaido's Ski Season
Air Canada will fly three times weekly from Vancouver to Sapporo's New Chitose Airport from December 17 using Boeing 787s — the airline's first-ever service to Hokkaido, Japan, timed for the ski season.
British Airways Launches First-Ever Heathrow–Fuerteventura Flights From December 13
British Airways will fly twice weekly from London Heathrow to Fuerteventura starting December 13 — the first direct service ever between LHR and the Canary Island — using a 156-seat Airbus A320ceo.
Ethiopian Airlines Adds Port Harcourt as Its Fifth Nigeria Destination From December 2026
Ethiopian Airlines will launch four-weekly Addis Ababa–Port Harcourt service on December 1, adding Nigeria's oil-sector gateway as the carrier's fifth Nigerian destination.