Global Aviation Expansion: 50 New Routes Starting In July 2024

July 2024 is set to witness the launch of 50 new airline routes globally, with LATAM Airlines Group’s expansion into Europe from Colombia being among the most notable. The airline’s inaugural flight connecting Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) is scheduled to commence on July 3, operating daily with Boeing 787-8 aircraft. This marks LATAM’s first European route from Colombia and comes on the heels of the airline’s request to Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, in October 2023 for fifth-freedom rights to operate this route as part of a service originating in Santiago, Chile. With the new Bogota-Madrid service, LATAM will join Air Europa, Avianca, Iberia, and Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas in offering flights between these capital cities.

Another major development is Qantas Airways’ expansion into France with a new route from Perth Airport (PER) to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) set to start on July 12. This four-times-weekly service will use Boeing 787-9 aircraft and is strategically timed ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The new route is expected to add 75,000 seats annually and reduce travel time between Perth and Paris by approximately three hours, further solidifying Perth as a significant international gateway for Qantas.

Additionally, Air China will be expanding its European footprint by launching a new route from Chengdu Tianfu International Airport to Milan Malpensa Airport on July 29. This thrice-weekly service using Airbus A350-900 aircraft will mark Air China’s fourth route to Milan and its sixth to Italy, doubling its Milan network compared to pre-pandemic levels. The new Chengdu-Milan service is a part of Air China’s broader strategy to increase its connectivity to Europe.

In the U.S., China Airlines will begin nonstop flights from Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to Seattle starting July 14. This new route will operate five times per week using Airbus A350-900 equipment, making Seattle the airline’s sixth destination in North America, alongside Los Angeles, New York John F. Kennedy, Ontario, San Francisco, and Vancouver. These new routes reflect a growing trend of increased air travel and connectivity as airlines expand their networks to meet rising passenger demand.