On Tuesday, November 4th at 13:09 local time, Emirates’ first flight arrived in Edinburgh after four and a half years. The airline will offer a daily frequency from/to Dubai with Boeing 777-200(LR) aircraft configured for 302 passengers in two classes, a different schedule than originally planned.

Emirates had suspended services to the Scottish capital in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last May, when announcing its return to Edinburgh, Emirates was scheduled to operate from Dubai using Airbus A350-900s, which the airline intended to add in September. Due to delivery delays, at publication time, services will continue to be operated on 777-200(LR) until at least mid-January 2025, when A350-900 flights would commence.

Daily

• EK 23  Dubai DXB 14:50 · 19:05 EDI Edinburgh
• EK 24  Edinburgh EDI 20:40 · 08:05+1 DXB Dubai

The first EK 23 flight had this schedule (DXB 09:39 – 13:09 EDI).

Adnan Kazim, Emirates’ Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer said: “The UK is one of our most important markets, and we’re proud to reinstate our footprint in Scotland – a country that’s loved by visitors from around the world.  Scottish customers can look forward to an elevated travel experience onboard, initially with our Boeing 777 ahead of our highly anticipated A350 arrival. With 14 weekly flights to and from the country – passengers can now easily connect to popular long-haul destinations such as Thailand, Australia, and of course, the vibrant city of Dubai.

The ample cargo capacity will also help support more industries across Scotland – offering more efficient and reliable transport solutions for businesses across the region to access international markets more quickly to meet demand. We’re excited to be back in Scotland’s capital and look forward to welcoming our passengers back onboard.”

Emirates routes to the UK

• Birmingham (BHX): 14 weekly (7 A388 and 7 77W)
• Edinburgh (EDI): 7 weekly · Boeing 777-200(LR)
• Glasgow (GLA): 7 weekly · Airbus A380
• London Gatwick (LGW): 21 weekly (14 A388 and 7 77W)
• London Heathrow (LHR): 42 weekly · Airbus A380-800
• London Stansted (STN): 14 weekly · Boeing 777-300(ER)
• Manchester (MAN): 21 weekly · Airbus A380-800
• Newcastle (NCL): 7 weekly · Boeing 777-300(ER)

“We are thrilled to be welcoming Emirates back to Edinburgh to resume that direct connection between Scotland’s capital and one of the world’s most sought out destinations in Dubai. Direct connectivity to Dubai is something that will be welcomed by both business and leisure passengers, while the onward connections through the vast Emirates network also opens up a plethora of opportunities for travel.  The return of Emirates has been one we have all been excited about and we are already looking forward to the introduction of the airline’s first A350, which offers passengers the chance to experience Emirates’ acclaimed Premium Economy product and its brand new Business Class cabin”, said Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport.

Iberia took delivery of its first Airbus A321XLR

On October 30th, the first Airbus A321XLR was delivered.

The plane, with registration EC-OIL, landed at 17:27 local time at Madrid-Barajas airport in the Spanish capital from Hamburg (XFW) on its delivery ferry flight, which lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes.

Iberia becomes the first airline to incorporate this aircraft, being the first A321XLR of the original order of eight. The Spanish company decided to configure its Airbus A321XLR for 182 passengers in two classes (14 Business and 168 Economy).

As can be seen through our database, at the time of publication, Barcelona, Paris and Stockholm were the destinations for the Airbus A321-253NY, all to/from Madrid, and schedules to start flights to the United States on November 14th.

Iberia’s fleet

• Airbus A319-100: 3
• Airbus A320-200: 11
• Airbus A320neo: 17
• Airbus A321-200: 14
• Airbus A321XLR: 1
• Airbus A330-200: 16
• Airbus A330-300: 8
• Airbus A350-900: 22

Austrian adds routes in Europe by summer 2025

The carrier announced it will expand its international schedule in Europe between May and June 2025, with new services to Bulgaria, Finland, Germany and Scotland. These operations will be offered by Airbus A320-200 jets with 174/180 seats.

• Vienna (VIE) – Evenes (EVE): 1 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Vienna (VIE) – Edinburgh (EDI): 3 weekly · June 3rd, 2025
• Vienna (VIE) – Burgas (BOJ): 3 weekly · June 19th, 2025
• Vienna (VIE) – Sylt (GWT): 1 weekly · June 28th, 2025

“Last summer, the demand for destinations in the cooler north increased significantly. Accordingly, we are flying to three ‘cool’ new destinations in summer 2025: Edinburgh, Sylt, and the Lofoten islands,” explains Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl.

TAP keeps expanding in Brazil

At 18:15 local time on November 4th, TAP Air Portugal’s inaugural flight arrived in Manaus from Lisbon via Belém. The airline reaches 13 destinations in Brazil with Manaus.

TAP will perform the Lisbon – Belém – Manaus route three times weekly using Airbus A321neo airplanes of 171 seats.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

• TP 51  Lisbon LIS 10:40 · 15:50 BEL Belém
• TP 51  Belém BEL 16:50 · 18:20 MAO Manaus

• TP 52  Manaus MAO 19:50 · 23:20 BEL Belém
• TP 52  Belém BEL 00:20+1 · 11:10+1 LIS Lisbon (Tue/Thu/Sat)

Routes between Portugal and Brazil by TAP Air Portugal

Lisbon

• Belém (BEL): 6 weekly · Airbus A321neo
• Belo Horizonte (CNF): 6 weekly · Airbus A330neo
• Brasilia (BSB): 6 weekly · Airbus A330neo
• Florianópolis (FLN): 3 weekly · Airbus A330-200
• Fortaleza (FOR): 7 weekly · Airbus A330neo
• Maceió (MCZ) via NAT: 3 weekly · Airbus A321neo
• Manaus (MAO) via BEL: 3 weekly · Airbus A321neo
• Natal (NAT): 7 weekly · Airbus A321neo
• Recife (REC): 10 weekly · A32Q/A332/A339
• Rio de Janeiro (GIG): 12 weekly · Airbus A330neo
• Salvador (SSA): 7 weekly · A332/A339
• Sao Paulo (GRU): 18 weekly · Airbus A330neo

Porto

• Rio de Janeiro (GIG): 2 weekly · Airbus A330neo
• Sao Paulo (GRU): 3 weekly · Airbus A330neo

The company will restart services to Porto Alegre in 2025.

As mentioned in our Latin America report, Porto Alegre airport, owned by concessionaire Fraport, resumed commercial flights on October 21st, following 171 days closed due to flooding.

International services are scheduled to return in December, but TAP Air Portugal plans to recommence operations from Lisbon in April 2025.

We review other highlights of the European market

Aegean

Aegean Airlines will continue to fly the Thessaloniki – Amsterdam route after March 31st, 2025. This route, scheduled as a seasonal winter service, will change to year-round.

SKG – AMS

• A3 518  Thessaloniki SKG 18:30 · 20:50 AMS Amsterdam (Monday)
• A3 518  Thessaloniki SKG 18:30 · 20:50 AMS Amsterdam (Thursday)
• A3 518  Thessaloniki SKG 16:00 · 18:20 AMS Amsterdam (Saturday)

AMS – SKG

• A3 519  Amsterdam AMS 21:40 · 01:50+1 SKG Thessaloniki (Monday)
• A3 519  Amsterdam AMS 21:40 · 01:50+1 SKG Thessaloniki (Thursday)
• A3 519  Amsterdam AMS 19:10 · 23:20 SKG Thessaloniki (Saturday)

In addition to SKG, the carrier operates between Athens and Amsterdam on Airbus A321neo aircraft, ten times a week.

Aer Lingus

By summer 2025, Aer Lingus will introduce the Airbus A321neo on the Dublin – Amsterdam route, provided by Airbus A320-200 and Airbus A320neo planes.

According to its website, flight EI 604/605 will be served with 184-seat A321neo from March 30th, 2025, on a daily basis.

Schedule

• EI 602/603: daily · Airbus A320-200
• EI 604/605: daily · Airbus A321neo
• EI 608/609: daily · Airbus A320-200
• EI 610/611: daily · A320/A32N

airBaltic

On November 8th at 13:17 local time, airBaltic’s inaugural flight from Riga landed in Rzeszów (Poland). The airline will offer two services per week on this route with Airbus A220-300, seating 149 passengers.

Monday and Friday

• BT 463  Riga RIX 13:00 · 13:35 RZE Rzeszów
• BT 464  Rzeszów RZE 14:20 · 16:50 RIX Riga

Rzeszów is the closest commercial airport to the Ukrainian border in its network of operations, as detailed in a press release shared by airBaltic.

Air France

The company will maintain its services between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Manila year-round. In accordance with its website, Air France will continue operating three weekly flights to the Philippine city using 324-seat Airbus A350-900s.

Tuesday, Friday and Sunday

• AF 208  Paris CDG 23:20 · 18:30+1 MNL Manila

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

• AF 209  Manila MNL 21:00 · 05:50+1 CDG Paris

Air France’s first flight to Manila will be on December 7th.

ANA

As announced, All Nippon Airways will expand its operations in Europe, with the start of Istanbul, Milan and Stockholm.

Recently, through its website, the airline began marketing its new services to Milan Malpensa and Stockholm Arlanda from Tokyo Haneda, which will commence on March 30th, 2025:

Milan

• NH 207  Tokyo HND 00:55 · 09:20 MXP Milan
• NH 208  Milan MXP 11:20 · 07:20+1 HND Tokyo

Stockholm

• NH 221  Tokyo HND 00:30 · 07:15 ARN Stockholm
• NH 222  Stockholm ARN 10:30 · 07:15+1 HND Tokyo

Both routes will be provided on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, by Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets.

At the moment, the new Tokyo Haneda – Istanbul route is not for sale.

Austrian

Effective March 30th, 2025, Austrian Airlines will increase its services to Washington DC from six to seven times weekly. As per its website, the airline will operate from Vienna on 211-seat Boeing 767-300(ER) aircraft.

Daily

• OS 93  Vienna VIE 10:50 · 14:35 IAD Washington
• OS 94  Washington IAD 17:25 · 08:20+1 VIE Vienna

Boston, Chicago O’Hare, New York, Newark and Washington DC are Austrian’s destinations in the United States.

Condor

The German company will add 8 routes from Frankfurt, which it will fly with Airbus A320-200s. Three will be domestic, while the other five will operate to other European countries.

• Berlin (BER): 7 weekly · March 30th, 2025
• Hamburg (HAM): 7 weekly · March 30th, 2025
• Munich (MUC): 7 weekly · March 30th, 2025
• Vienna (VIE): 7 weekly · March 30th, 2025
• Zurich (ZRH): 7 weekly · March 30th, 2025
• Milan (MXP): 7 weekly · May 1st, 2025
• Prague (PRG): 7 weekly · May 1st, 2025
• Rome (FCO): 7 weekly · May 1st, 2025

In addition, at 18:17 local time on November 3rd, Condor’s inaugural flight arrived in San José del Cabo from Flughafen Frankfurt am Main, a route to be performed twice a week on Airbus A330-900neo jets.

Wednesday and Sunday

• DE 2124  Frankfurt FRA 13:05 · 18:20 SJD San José del Cabo
• DE 2125  San José del Cabo SJD 20:30 · 15:50+1 FRA Frankfurt

Condor’s second destination in Mexico after Cancún.

Croatia Airlines

Croatia Airlines will operate the following routes with Airbus A220-300s during winter 2024/25.

Subject to change · eff October 27th

• Split (SPU) – Frankfurt (FRA)
• Split (SPU) – Rome (FCO)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Amsterdam (AMS)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Brussels (BRU)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Copenhagen (CPH)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Dubrovnik (DBV)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Frankfurt (FRA)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – London (LHR)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Paris (CDG)
• Zagreb (ZAG) – Skopje (SKP)

Edelweiss

Edelweiss Air has confirmed the destinations it will serve using Airbus A350-900s, as of October 26th, 2025.

Zurich

• ZRH – Bogotá (BOG) – Cartagena (CTG) – ZRH: 2 weekly · October 26th, 2025
• Punta Cana (PUJ): 3 weekly · October 26th, 2025
• Tampa (TPA): 2 weekly · October 26th, 2025
• ZRH – San José (SJO) – Liberia (LIR) – ZRH: 2 weekly · October 27th, 2025
• Cancún (CUN): 3 weekly · October 28th, 2025
• ZRH – Kilimanjaro (JRO) – Zanzibar (ZNZ) – ZRH: 2 weekly · October 28th, 2025
• ZRH – Puerto Plata (POP) – Montego Bay (MBJ) – ZRH: 1 weekly · October 30th, 2025
• San José (SJO): 1 weekly · October 31st, 2025

Subject to change.

Icelandair

Regarding its new Airbus A321neo, the carrier announced the route network it will operate with these aircraft.

Flights will commence on December 10th.

From/to Reykjavik KEF (first service)

• Stockholm (ARN): December 10th
• Copenhagen (CPH): December 10th
• London (LHR): December 23rd
• Oslo (OSL): December 24th
• Amsterdam (AMS): January 5th, 2025
• Dublin (DUB): February 2nd, 2025
• Glasgow (GLA): March 30th, 2025
• Manchester (MAN): April 1st, 2025
• Toronto (YYZ): May 1st, 2025
• Munich (MUC): May 2nd, 2025
• Seattle (SEA): May 7th, 2025
• Brussels (BRU): May 28th, 2025
• Berlin (BER): June 1st, 2025
• Rome (FCO): June 1st, 2025
• Barcelona (BCN): June 2nd, 2025
• Paris (CDG): June 2nd, 2025
• Zurich (ZRH): September 15th, 2025
• Portland (PDX): October 26th, 2025

Icelandair will soon take delivery of its first A321neo, registered TF-IAA.

L’Odyssey

A new airline in France.

L’Odyssey, to be based in Nîmes, will begin scheduled flights from May 2025, with an ATR 72-600 configured for 70 passengers. At time of publication, Ajaccio, Barcelona, Bastia, Milan Bergamo, Nice and Verona will be its destinations.

In accordance with its website, the company intends to open reservations on November 21st.

Nîmes (FNI)

• Barcelona (BCN): 2 weekly · May 29th, 2025
• Milan (BGY) via NCE: 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Verona (VRN): 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Ajaccio (AJA): 1 weekly · May 31st, 2025
• Bastia (BIA): 1 weekly · June 5th, 2025

Other routes

• Geneva (GVA) – Verona (VRN): 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Nice (NCE) – Milan (BGY): 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Tours (TUF) – Ajaccio (AJA): 1 weekly · June 1st, 2025
• Tours (TUF) – Bastia (BIA): 1 weekly · June 5th, 2025

Loganair

Glasgow – Newquay, Loganair’s new route.

Beginning May 31st 2025, the carrier will inaugurate seasonal services between the two cities, which will be operated on Embraer 145 planes with 49 seats in single class.

Saturday

• LM 417  Glasgow GLA 13:00 · 14:30 NQY Newquay
• LM 418  Newquay NQY 15:05 · 16:35 GLA Glasgow

Loganair has 36 aircraft in its fleet (6 ATR 42, 13 ATR 72, 2 Britten-Norman Islander, 12 Embraer 145 and 3 Twin Otter).

Plus Ultra

Plus Ultra’s inaugural flight to Cartagena (Colombia) departed Warsaw at 11:49 local time on November 9th. The Spanish carrier will perform one weekly frequency on this route with Airbus A330-200 jets configured for 299 passengers.

These services will be offered through winter 2024/25.

Saturday

• PU 921  Warsaw WAW 11:35 · 18:25 CTG Cartagena
• PU 922  Cartagena CTG 20:15 · 13:45+1 WAW Warsaw

As well as Cartagena, Plus Ultra announced it will commence operations to Buenos Aires (Argentina) from Madrid in 2025. At the moment, there is no confirmed start date, with July being tentative.

Ryanair

In December, the ultra low cost carrier will add three new international routes from Europe, two to Turkey and the other to Morocco.

Ryanair will serve Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured for 189 passengers in single class.

Kraków

• Marrakech (RAK): 2 weekly · December 2nd

London Stansted

• Bodrum (BJV): 2 weekly · December 1st
• Dalaman (DLM): 2 weekly · December 2nd

Scandinavian Airlines System

The company will resume operations to Greenland as of June 27th, 2025, making its return to the country after 17 years. SAS will fly between Copenhagen and Nuuk with 185-seat Airbus A320neo airplanes, three times weekly.

CPH – GOH

• SK 1294  Copenhagen CPH 09:00 · 11:05 GOH Nuuk (Monday)
• SK 1294  Copenhagen CPH 09:00 · 11:05 GOH Nuuk (Wednesday)
• SK 1294  Copenhagen CPH 12:15 · 14:20 GOH Nuuk (Friday)

GOH – CPH

• SK 1295  Nuuk GOH 12:05 · 19:45 CPH Copenhagen (Monday)
• SK 1295  Nuuk GOH 12:05 · 19:45 CPH Copenhagen (Wednesday)
• SK 1295  Nuuk GOH 15:20 · 23:00 CPH Copenhagen (Friday)

Copenhagen – Kangerlussuaq was in 2008 SAS’ last route to Greenland.

Smartwings

On November 21st, Smartwings is set to launch its scheduled flights by Airbus A220-300s.

At the time of publication, Prague – Paris Charles de Gaulle will be the first route, with two daily frequencies planned between the capitals of the Czech Republic and France.

The first A220, which will receive the registry OK-EYA, is currently in Montreal awaiting its incorporation to Smartwings. As seen in photos on social media, the aircraft will have CSA Czech Airlines livery.

Daily

• QS 1034  Prague PRG 12:25 · 14:15 CDG Paris
• QS 1035  Paris CDG 15:00 · 16:45 PRG Prague

Daily

• QS 1036  Prague PRG 17:35 · 19:25 CDG Paris
• QS 1037  Paris CDG 20:15 · 21:55 PRG Prague

Cagliari, Catania, Olbia and Palma de Mallorca will be other destinations for this aircraft, all to/from PRG.

SunExpress

SunExpress Airlines will add new services to Europe by summer 2025. The airline will operate Boeing 737-800 planes:

• Ordu Giresun (OGU) – Stuttgart (STR): 1 weekly · May 28th, 2025
• Bursa (YEI) – Düsseldorf (DUS): 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Bursa (YEI) – Stuttgart (STR): 2 weekly · May 30th, 2025
• Izmir (ADB) – Cork (ORK): 2 weekly · May 31st, 2025
• Edremit (EDO) – Stuttgart (STR): 1 weekly · June 1st, 2025
• Kayseri (ASR) – Hannover (HAJ): 1 weekly · June 3rd, 2025
• Erzurum (ERZ) – Düsseldorf (DUS): 1 weekly · June 4th, 2025
• Kayseri (ASR) – London (STN): 1 weekly · July 1st, 2025

Swiss and Edelweiss

For summer, Swiss International Air Lines and Edelweiss Air will launch new short-haul routes in Europe, all from/to Zurich airport.

Edelweiss

• Tbilisi (TBS): 2 weekly · April 12th, 2025 · Airbus A320
• Bristol (BRS): 2 weekly · June 2nd, 2025 · Airbus A320
• Terceira (TER): 1 weekly · June 25th, 2025 · Airbus A320
• Zadar (ZAD): 2 weekly · June 28th, 2025 · Airbus A220 (Swiss)
• Calvi (CLY): 1 weekly · July 6th, 2025 · Airbus A320

Edelweiss will replace Swiss on the Zurich – Bristol route in summer 2025.

Swiss

• Dubrovnik (DBV): 4 weekly · April 17th, 2025 · Embraer 190
• Montpellier (MPL): 2 weekly · June 27th, 2025 · Embraer 190
• Heringsdorf (HDF): 1 weekly · June 28th, 2025 · Embraer 190
• Niš (INI): 2 weekly · June 30th, 2025 · Embraer E-2

TAROM

In our European October report, we had commented that S.C. Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române (TAROM S.A.) planned to retire its only Airbus A318 at the end of October.

Finally, the airline decided to maintain operations with this airplane registered as YR-ASA, and now plans to cease flights on November 20th.

Following the withdrawal, the SkyTeam member will be left with 14 planes in its fleet, averaging 13 years old.

• ATR 72: 6
• Boeing 737-700: 4
• Boeing 737-800: 4

Transavia

Two new Transavia destinations from Rotterdam as of April 2025, both with Boeing 737-800 jets:

• Trieste (TRS): 3 weekly · April 1st, 2025
• London (STN): 4 weekly · April 3rd, 2025

TUI

Cardiff – Chambéry, new seasonal route for winter 2024/25.

The airline will inaugurate services between the two cities effective December 21st, operating with 188-seat Boeing 737-800s.

Saturday

• TOM 6605  Chambéry CMF 13:50 · 14:40 CWL Cardiff
• TOM 6604  Cardiff CWL 16:00 · 19:00 CMF Chambéry

Regarding TUI Airlines Belgium, by summer 2025, it will commence flights between Liege and Nador (Morocco) on June 25th, 2025.

Wednesday

• TB 2623  Liege LGG 18:35 · 20:55 NDR Nador
• TB 2624  Nador NDR 21:30 · 01:45+1 LGG Liege

Turkish

The company will boost frequencies on its seasonal Istanbul – Rovaniemi route, which will start from December 3rd.

Turkish will perform four flights per week during winter 2024/25, in contrast to three in winter 2023/24. The services will be operated with 171-seat Boeing 737-800 jets:

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

• TK 1749  Istanbul IST 09:55 · 13:35 RVN Rovaniemi
• TK 1750  Rovaniemi RVN 15:50 · 21:35 IST Istanbul

Helsinki is Turkish Airlines’ only current destination in Finland, offering two daily frequencies from IST on Airbus A321 and Boeing 737 MAX 9.

Widerøe

More flights to the Faroe Islands for winter 2025.

The Norwegian carrier will expand its services between Bergen and Vágar, beginning March 31st, 2025. As per its website, Widerøe will provide three weekly services using the 78-seat Dash 8s.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

• WF 290  Bergen BGO 10:50 · 11:35 FAE Vágar
• WF 291  Vágar FAE 12:15 · 14:50 BGO Bergen

In winter 2024, the airline had operated on Mondays and Fridays.

Wizz Air

The low-cost airline announced it will reopen its base in Chișinău from December, launching eight new routes.

Effective December 19th onwards, Wizz Air will offer 16 scheduled destinations to/from the Moldovan capital, with Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 airplanes.

• Dortmund (DTM): 3 weekly · December 16th
• Memmingen (FMM): 3 weekly · December 16th
• Verona (VRN): 2 weekly · December 16th
• Berlin (BER): 2 weekly · December 17th
• Paris (BVA): 2 weekly · December 17th
• Bologna (BLQ): 2 weekly · December 18th
• Brussels (CRL): 2 weekly · December 19th
• Nuremberg (NUE): 2 weekly · December 19th

Wizz Air’s current routes are Abu Dhabi, Budapest, London Luton, Milan Malpensa, Rome, Venice, Vienna and Warsaw.

We review the new aircraft incorporated by European airlines

• airBaltic

• Air France (x2)

• Binter Canarias (x2)

• British Airways

• easyJet (x2)

• FedEx Feeder (Swiftair)

• Iberia

• ITA Airways

• Lufthansa

• Ryanair (x2)

• Transavia

• Turkish Airlines (x2)

• Virgin Atlantic

• Wizz Air

Other reports we have published

• Asia and Oceania
• Africa and Middle East
• United States and Canada
• Latin America

Cover photo: Emirates Public Relations (Edinburgh-Turnhouse – EGPH, United Kingdom).