Greater Bay Airlines Launches Hong Kong–Chongqing Seasonal Flights from September 2026
Hong Kong's Greater Bay Airlines will operate three-weekly seasonal flights between Hong Kong and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport from 4 September to 16 October 2026, targeting strong autumn demand for southwest China travel.
Jet2 Launches Birmingham–Tunisia for Summer 2027, Making Its First-Ever Entry into the Country
Jet2 has announced its first-ever flights to Tunisia, launching from Birmingham and four other UK airports to Enfidha-Hammamet International Airport from May 2027 in a package-holiday expansion.
EgyptAir Launches First-Ever Direct Birmingham–Cairo Route from October 2026
EgyptAir will launch the first-ever nonstop service between Birmingham Airport and Cairo International Airport from October 27, 2026, operating four times weekly year-round with the Boeing 737-8.
Norse Atlantic to Launch London Gatwick–Phuket Nonstop This Winter, Expanding UK–Thailand Program
Norse Atlantic Airways announced a new three-times-weekly London Gatwick–Phuket nonstop for winter 2026/27, adding Phuket to its UK portfolio alongside existing Gatwick–Bangkok service starting December 2026.
American Airlines to Resume Miami–Cap-Haïtien Flights, First U.S. Carrier Back to Haiti
American Airlines announced it will resume daily Miami–Cap-Haïtien flights on November 1, becoming the first U.S. airline to announce service to Haiti since major carriers suspended operations in late 2024.
American Airlines Launches Daily Miami–Maracaibo Flights, First US Nonstop to Venezuela's Second City
American Airlines will launch the only nonstop US–Maracaibo service on July 14, using Embraer 175 aircraft from Miami — the first commercial flight by a US carrier to Venezuela's second-largest city since 2019, following the lifting of the federal flight ban earlier this year.
Etihad Airways Launches First-Ever Abu Dhabi–Palma de Mallorca Service with A321LR
Etihad Airways launched its first-ever service to Palma de Mallorca in the week of June 10–16, operating three-weekly A321LR flights from Abu Dhabi to the Spanish Mediterranean island — a destination that had never previously had a Gulf carrier connection from Dubai either.
Etihad Airways Launches First-Ever Abu Dhabi–Krakow Flights with A321LR
Etihad Airways launched its first-ever service to Krakow in the week of June 10–16, operating three-weekly A321LR flights from Abu Dhabi to Poland's primary inbound tourist city.
Airlink Launches Cape Town–Mauritius, Its First-Ever Indian Ocean Island Route
South African carrier Airlink will launch its first-ever service to Mauritius on October 2, connecting Cape Town to the Indian Ocean island twice weekly with its new Embraer E195-E2 fleet — one of the longest scheduled E195-E2 routes in the world.
Qatar Airways Returns to Philadelphia with Daily Flights
Qatar Airways will resume daily Doha–Philadelphia service from August 1, filling the gap left by American Airlines and expanding its North American network to 14 destinations with Qsuite-equipped A350-900 aircraft.
Etihad and TAROM Open New Links Across Eastern Europe
Etihad Airways confirmed its Abu Dhabi–Bucharest resumption will launch December 17, announcing a codeshare with Romania's TAROM at the IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro that links six Romanian cities and four Eastern European capitals to Abu Dhabi.
Riyadh Air opens ticket sales for Dubai, Cairo, Madrid, Manchester and Jeddah as Saudi airline accelerates expansion
Saudi Arabia's new carrier Riyadh Air announced on June 8 that it will launch three-weekly Riyadh–Manchester service starting July 23, marking the airline's second UK destination as it accelerates its public network rollout.
TAAG Expands Long-Haul Network with Direct Luanda-Guangzhou Flights
TAAG Angola Airlines confirmed on 4 June 2026 the launch of weekly nonstop flights between Luanda and Guangzhou starting 23 June, opening the only direct air link between Angola and mainland China aboard a Boeing 787-9.
Air Canada Launches Halifax–Brussels, Its Longest 737 MAX Route
Air Canada launches Halifax–Brussels with a 737 MAX 8, setting a new distance record as Air Canada's longest-ever service from Nova Scotia at 2,670 nautical miles and giving the province its first direct Star Alliance hub link to Belgium.
Royal Air Maroc Launches First Nonstop Service Between Los Angeles and Casablanca
Royal Air Maroc creates Africa's first direct air link to the U.S. West Coast with a three-weekly Casablanca–Los Angeles nonstop launching June 7, timed ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
China Eastern Airlines to Launch 'Shanghai-Zurich' Service on June 18
China Eastern Airlines opens Shanghai Pudong–Zurich on June 18 with three weekly A350-900 flights, giving Switzerland a second direct Chinese carrier connection alongside the existing Shanghai–Geneva route.
Israel's El Al to resume San Francisco flights to link Tel Aviv and Silicon Valley
El Al restores nonstop Tel Aviv–San Francisco service from October 25, reviving a pandemic-era casualty and making San Francisco the carrier's sixth U.S. destination.
EVA Air Launches Nonstop Service Between Taipei and Washington, D.C. on June 26
EVA Air becomes the first Taiwanese carrier to serve Washington Dulles, launching four weekly nonstop flights from Taipei on June 26 and expanding its North American network to 10 gateways.
Air Transat Launches New Non-Stop Service Between Montreal and Istanbul
Air Transat adds a year-round Montreal–Istanbul nonstop to its Turkish network, giving Canada up to five weekly departures to the city when combined with its existing Toronto service.
Air Transat Adds Dakar and Reykjavik to its 2026 Summer Program
Air Transat launches the only nonstop Canada–West Africa link, connecting Montreal to Dakar twice weekly starting June 17 — the first direct service between Canada and Sub-Saharan Africa.