Asia-Pacific Airlines Launch 50 New Routes
Airlines across the Asia-Pacific region are gearing up to expand their long-haul networks over the coming weeks, with more than 50 new routes set to enhance connectivity between Asia, Europe, and North America. Carriers are unveiling a mix of brand-new services and network reshuffles aimed at tapping into growing demand and rebalancing their route portfolios.
In the Asia-Europe market, Asiana Airlines is set to launch a Seoul Incheon-Prague service on April 1, operating an Airbus A350-900 on three weekly flights. Currently, the Korean carrier serves six European destinations including Barcelona, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Paris, and Rome. Adding Prague to its network is viewed as a strategic move to bolster its presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines’ low-cost arm, Scoot, is reshaping its European network. The carrier will begin direct flights from Singapore to Vienna on June 3 using Boeing 787-8 aircraft with 329 seats across two cabin classes. The new Vienna route will allow Scoot to become the sole operator of nonstop flights on this corridor, while the airline phases out its existing service to Berlin, refocusing its efforts on high-potential markets.
Chinese carrier Sichuan Airlines is also stepping up its efforts in Europe by launching nonstop flights between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Madrid Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport starting April 27. Operating four times per week on an Airbus A350-900, this route will be the only nonstop service between the two cities, further cementing the dominance of Chinese airlines on the China-Europe corridor.
Cathay Pacific is set to revive its European ambitions with the return of flights to Rome Fiumicino Airport after a five-year hiatus. With Rome now becoming its 12th European destination and second in Italy, the Oneworld member is expanding its network to better serve leisure and business travelers alike.
North American carriers are also making significant moves to extend their Asia-Pacific reach. Air Canada is launching a Vancouver-Manila service on April 2 using a Boeing 787-9, with initial frequencies of three flights per week, later increasing to four. This route marks Air Canada’s 12th Asia-Pacific destination from Vancouver and leverages growing tourism, business ties, and the substantial Filipino-Canadian community.
In addition, Delta Air Lines will resume flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai Pudong starting June 1, operating three times per week with an A350-900. Delta is also set to introduce a Salt Lake City-Seoul Incheon route from June 12, restoring transpacific service from Salt Lake City after more than a decade. United Airlines, on the other hand, will begin flights between Tokyo Narita and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from May 1 as it reactivates its hub operations in Japan.
Beyond these headline routes, several other carriers are unveiling new services across the region. Routes from Air Astana connecting Almaty to Guangzhou and Da Nang, Air Cambodia’s Phnom Penh to Shenzhen service, and new offerings by carriers like Batik Air Malaysia, Jetstar, and Vietjet further diversify the route network. Additionally, regional players including Fiji Airways, Hainan Airlines, and Indonesia AirAsia are launching services that reinforce the connectivity between key Asia-Pacific cities.
Collectively, these initiatives mark a robust recovery in long-haul networks, with airlines responding to surging travel demand by rebalancing their fleets and optimizing schedules. The new routes, scheduled to commence between March and June, promise enhanced travel options for both leisure and business passengers, reinforcing the Asia-Pacific region’s role as a dynamic aviation hub in the post-pandemic era.
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