Alaska Airlines has announced its arrival in Europe starting in May 2026, with a new scheduled route from Seattle. The operations, which will be carried out by Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, will have four weekly frequencies, being the Italian capital the first destination chosen on the European continent.

In accordance with its press release, the first flight between Seattle and Rome will be on May 4th, 2026. With this schedule, the airline will offer 1200 seats per week on each leg, as Hawaiian’s Boeing 787-9s are configured with 34 seats in Business and 266 seats in Economy, giving a total of 300 seats.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• AS   Seattle SEA 18:00 · 13:45+1 FCO Rome
• AS   Rome FCO 15:45 · 18:00 SEA Seattle

Hawaiian has four Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in its fleet, and plans to add more in the near future.

NORTH AMERICA

Porter to have a major international expansion

The Canadian airline has confirmed a new international expansion, which will begin in November for the Northern Winter 2025/26.

Hamilton (YHM/CYHM), Ottawa (YOW/CYOW) and Toronto (YYZ/CYYZ) will have new Porter routes, to be conducted with Embraer E195-E2 aircraft configured for 132 passengers in single class.

• Toronto (YYZ) – Cancún (CUN): 4 weekly · November 5th
• Toronto (YYZ) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 3 weekly · November 14th
• Toronto (YYZ) – Liberia (LIR): 3 weekly · December 4th
• Ottawa (YOW) – Nassau (NAS): 1 weekly · December 13th
• Ottawa (YOW) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 2 weekly · December 13th
• Hamilton (YHM) – Nassau (NAS): 2 weekly · December 14th
• Toronto (YYZ) – George Town (GCM): 3 weekly · December 16th
• Hamilton (YHM) – Cancún (CUN): 4 weekly · December 17th
• Ottawa (YOW) – Cancún (CUN): 3 weekly · December 17th
• Ottawa (YOW) – Liberia (LIR): 2 weekly · December 17th
• Hamilton (YHM) – Puerto Vallarta (PVR): 3 weekly · December 18th
• Ottawa (YOW) – George Town (GCM): 1 weekly · December 19th

LATIN AMERICA

Arajet expands its operations in the United States

Arajet will fly between Punta Cana and Orlando as of October 26th by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, configured for 186 passengers, three times weekly. The airline will operate to Sanford Airport, which will regain international flights with Arajet.

Orlando will become Arajet’s fourth U.S. destination after Boston, Miami and Newark.

PUJ – SFB

• DM 5220  Punta Cana PUJ 09:25 · 11:25 SFB Orlando (Tuesday)
• DM 5220  Punta Cana PUJ 13:10 · 15:10 SFB Orlando (Friday)
• DM 5220  Punta Cana PUJ 11:35 · 13:35 SFB Orlando (Sunday)

SFB – PUJ

• DM 5221  Orlando SFB 12:55 · 16:40 PUJ Punta Cana (Tuesday)
• DM 5221  Orlando SFB 17:40 · 20:25 PUJ Punta Cana (Friday)
• DM 5221  Orlando SFB 15:05 · 18:50 PUJ Punta Cana (Sunday)

In addition, almost a month later, the Dominican company will launch flights to Chicago’s O’Hare airport. According to its website, Arajet will operate three times a week to/from Punta Cana with the same aircraft starting November 15th.

PUJ – ORD

• DM 5480  Punta Cana PUJ 19:30 · 22:40 ORD Chicago (Tuesday)
• DM 5480  Punta Cana PUJ 05:47 · 08:57 ORD Chicago (Saturday)
• DM 5480  Punta Cana PUJ 18:00 · 21:20 ORD Chicago (Sunday)

ORD – PUJ

• DM 5481  Chicago ORD 03:30 · 10:15 PUJ Punta Cana (Monday)
• DM 5481  Chicago ORD 04:35 · 11:20 PUJ Punta Cana (Wednesday)
• DM 5481  Chicago ORD 10:27 · 17:12 PUJ Punta Cana (Saturday)

This commencement will bring the airline’s total number of destinations in the United States to five. It also operates to San Juan (Puerto Rico) from Santo Domingo and Punta Cana.

BoA to initiate two new international routes

Boliviana de Aviación will expand its domestic operations in Bolivia, with two new routes to be confirmed from Santa Cruz de la Sierra’s second airport, El Trompillo (SRZ/SLET), and will also launch a second destination to Spain and the United States.

The Bolivian state-owned airline will start flying to Washington DC and Barcelona from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, BoA’s main hub. Both routes will be operated on Airbus A330-200s configured for 275 passengers, which were incorporated by the airline as of 2023 to replace the Boeing 767-300(ER).

Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Barcelona will be non-stop, while Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Washington DC will have a stopover in Miami on both legs. According to BoA, the two routes will have two weekly frequencies with schedules to be confirmed. VVI-BCN will commence on August 16th, and further details of VVI-MIA-IAD are currently unknown.

EUROPE

easyJet will launch new routes

easyJet has announced that it will begin many new routes within Europe and two to Africa starting in late October, for the Northern Winter 2025/26.

Operations, as per its website, will be performed with Airbus A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft, most of them for two to three months, as they will be seasonal services.

October

• Bristol (BRS) – Munich (MUC): 3 weekly · October 26th
• Edinburgh (EDI) – Belfast City (BFS): 5 weekly · October 26th
• Milan (LIN) – Porto (OPO): 4 weekly · October 26th
• Toulouse (TLS) – Marrakech (RAK): 3 weekly · October 26th
• Barcelona (BCN) – Edinburgh (EDI): 2 weekly · October 27th
• Barcelona (BCN) – Southampton (SOU): 2 weekly · October 27th
• Paris (CDG) – Aberdeen (ABZ): 2 weekly · October 27th
• Paris (CDG) – Belgrade (BEG): 2 weekly · October 27th
• London (LGW) – Toulouse (TLS): 2 weekly · October 27th
• Liverpool (LPL) – Almería (LEI): 2 weekly · October 28th
• Barcelona (BCN) – Leeds (LBA): 2 weekly · October 29th
• Bristol (BRS) – Zurich (ZRH): 2 weekly · October 29th

November

• Liverpool (LPL) – Kraków (KRK): 2 weekly · November 3rd
• Manchester (MAN) – Ljubljana (LJU): 2 weekly · November 4th
• London (SEN) – Berlin (BER): 2 weekly · November 7th
• Milan (MXP) – Strasbourg (SXB): 2 weekly · November 7th
• Liverpool (LPL) – Vienna (VIE): 3 weekly · November 13th
• Basel (BSL) – Vienna (VIE): 2 weekly · November 15th
• Bristol (BRS) – Vienna (VIE): 2 weekly · November 21st
• Milan (MXP) – Luxor (LXR): 2 weekly · November 24th
• Bordeaux (BOD) – Vienna (VIE): 2 weekly · November 27th
• Manchester (MAN) – Strasbourg (SXB): 2 weekly · November 28th
• Rome (FCO) – Strasbourg (SXB): 2 weekly · November 28th

December

• Belfast (BFS) – Rovaniemi (RVN): 2 weekly · December 2nd
• London (LGW) – Vienna (VIE): 3 weekly · December 5th
• Bristol (BRS) – Verona (VRN): 2 weekly · December 6th
• Edinburgh (EDI) – Innsbruck (INN): 1 weekly · December 7th
• London (SEN) – Grenoble (GNB): 1 weekly · December 14th
• Birmingham (BHX) – Grenoble (GNB): 1 weekly · December 20th
• Manchester (MAN) – Verona (VRN): 1 weekly · December 20th

Copenhagen, new Vietnam Airlines destination

Vietnam Airlines has confirmed that it will expand its European footprint beginning in December, with a new route between Vietnam and Denmark.

The airline will commence services to Copenhagen from Ho Chi Minh City as of December 15th, which will operate with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

• VN 39  Ho Chi Minh City SGN 22:45 · 06:00+1 CPH Copenhagen

Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• VN 38  Copenhagen CPH 10:50 · 04:30+1 SGN Ho Chi Minh City

Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Munich and Paris Charles de Gaulle are its current destinations in Europe, all offered from/to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

ASIA

Air Canada resumes services in the United Kingdom-India market

Effective October 26th, Air Canada will once again operate between London and Mumbai, which it will offer with 255-seat Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft on a daily frequency. The complete route will be Toronto – London Heathrow – Mumbai and vice versa, scheduled for Northern Winter 2025/26.

Daily

• AC 856  Toronto YYZ 20:25 · 08:30+1 LHR London
• AC 856  London LHR 12:00+1 · 02:15+2 BOM Mumbai

• AC 857  Mumbai BOM 04:10 · 09:20 LHR London
• AC 857  London LHR 13:00 · 16:00 YYZ Toronto

In accordance with our database, the airline currently has 10 weekly flights in the Canada-India (Delhi) market, being seven to Toronto and the remaining three to Montreal.

China Eastern Airlines to launch its first route to South America

The airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Auckland Airport to launch its first scheduled route between China and Latin America, choosing Buenos Aires as its first destination.

According to Auckland Airport, China Eastern will fly two times per week the Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG/ZSPD) – Auckland International Airport (AKL/NZAA) – Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE/SAEZ) route starting in December, on Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft configured with 316 seats (6 seats in First, 52 seats in Premium Economy and 258 seats in Economy).

At the time of publication, schedules and days of operation are unknown, but flights should be for sale on China Eastern’s website shortly.

OCEANIA

Virgin begins flights with Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300(ER)s

Virgin Australia’s inaugural flight to Doha departed Sydney Kingsford International Airport (SYD/YSSY) at 15:08 local time on June 12th. The airline will operate one daily frequency with Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft, seating 354 passengers in two classes (42 seats in Business and 312 seats in Economy).

Daily

• VA 1  Sydney SYD 14:50 · 22:50 DOH Doha
• VA 2  Doha DOH 09:15 · 06:15 SYD Sydney

In addition, a week later, Virgin inaugurated its services between Brisbane and Doha, which will also be flown on Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300(ER)s. Virgin Australia will offer the following schedule:

Daily

• VA 15  Brisbane BNE 15:10 · 23:00 DOH Doha
• VA 16  Doha DOH 01:40 · 22:45 BNE Brisbane

Effective December 1st, Virgin Australia will launch flights to Doha from Melbourne International Airport (MEL/YMML), to be operated with Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300(ER) aircraft.

Jetstar starts new routes to New Zealand

The Australian airline inaugurates two new routes between Australia and New Zealand, to be served by 186-seat Airbus A320-200 aircraft.

Hamilton International Airport (HLZ/NZNH) becomes, for the first time in 13 years, a regular connection on Jetstar Airways’ schedule, with flights to Sydney and Gold Coast, which commenced on June 16th and June 18th, respectively. 

Sydney – Hamilton

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

• JQ 165  Sydney SYD 06:15 · 11:15 HLZ Hamilton
• JQ 166  Hamilton HLZ 12:15 · 13:45 SYD Sydney

Jetstar connected Sydney and Hamilton until 2012.

Gold Coast – Hamilton

Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• JQ 163  Gold Coast OOL 06:15 · 11:25 HLZ Hamilton
• JQ 164  Hamilton HLZ 12:25 · 14:15 OOL Gold Coast

Further news on the New Zealand-Australia market

Air New Zealand will fly between Christchurch and Adelaide from October 27th, during the Southern Summer 2025/26. Services will be operated twice-weekly with Airbus A320neo aircraft, offering 370 seats a week on each leg.

Monday and Friday

• NZ 261  Christchurch CHC 18:50 · 20:55 ADL Adelaide
• NZ 262  Adelaide ADL 07:00 · 13:45 CHC Christchurch (Tuesday/Saturday)

AFRICA

TAAG’s operations in the Angolan capital

TAAG Linhas Aéreas de Angola has announced that it will move all its operations from Luanda Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD/FNLU) to Luanda Dr. Antonio Agostinho Neto Airport (NBJ/FNBJ) in September. At publication time, as can be seen in our database, TAAG operates domestic flights at Luanda NBJ airport, using Boeing 737-700 and Dash 8 aircraft, and services to the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Flights to Cape Town (South Africa), Johannesburg (South Africa), Lagos (Nigeria), Lisbon (Portugal), Maputo (Mozambique), São Paulo (Brazil), São Tome (São Tome and Principe) and Windhoek (Namibia) will be added to those served from NBJ/FNBJ as of September 15th. Thus, Angola’s state-owned airline will no longer operate at LAD/FNLU.

Brazzaville, Cabinda, Catumbela, Dundo, Huambo, Kinshasa, Kuito, Lubango, Luena, Menongue, Namibe, Ondjiva, Saurimo and Soyo are part of TAAG’s schedule at Luanda NBJ/FNBJ.

MIDDLE EAST

Air Sial commences new services to the UAE

In June, Air Sial launched two new routes between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, to be offered using Airbus A320-200 aircraft configured for 180 passengers in single class.

Islamabad – Dubai · June 9th

Daily

• PF 784  Islamabad ISB 11:00 · 13:30 DXB Dubai
• PF 785  Dubai DXB 14:40 · 18:50 ISB Islamabad

Mondays: ISB 11:30 · 14:00 DXB – DXB 15:00 · 19:10 ISB  

Lahore – Dubai · June 9th

• PF 786  Lahore LHE 08:50 · 11:05 DXB Dubai (Monday)
• PF 786  Lahore LHE 11:40 · 13:55 DXB Dubai (Thursday)
• PF 786  Lahore LHE 12:15 · 14:30 DXB Dubai (Friday)

• PF 787  Dubai DXB 12:20 · 16:20 LHE Lahore (Monday)
• PF 787  Dubai DXB 14:55 · 18:55 LHE Lahore (Thursday)
• PF 787  Dubai DXB 15:30 · 19:30 LHE Lahore (Friday)

On the other hand, flydubai resumed flights between Dubai and Damascus on June 1st, and Emirates will restart services to the Syrian capital from DXB a month and a half later. Flydubai operates on 174-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8s, while Emirates will serve Boeing 777-200(LR)s, configured with 128 more seats.

Daily

• FZ 115  Dubai DXB 06:30 · 08:45 DAM Damascus
• FZ 116  Damascus DAM 10:00 · 14:20 DXB Dubai

The airline resumed this route following a 12-year hiatus.

Monday, Thursday and Saturday

• EK 913  Dubai DXB 11:00 · 13:30 DAM Damascus
• EK 914  Damascus DAM 16:00 · 19:55 DXB Dubai

First flight scheduled as of July 16th.

New aircraft incorporated by airlines during June

Icelandair’s Boeing 757, registration TF-FIC, with Pan Am livery.

The aircraft was part of the luxury world tour called “Tracing the Transatlantic”, which passed through some of the destinations once operated by the iconic Pan Am. New York (JFK/KJFK) – Bermuda (BDA/TXKF) – Lisbon (LIS/LPPT) – Beja (BYJ/LPBJ) – Marseille (MRS/LFML) – London (STN/EGSS) – Shannon (SNN/EINN) – New York (JFK/KJFK) was the complete journey, which began on June 17th and finished on June 27th.

Cover photo: epilot787 – JetPhotos