IndiGo and China Eastern Lead July Route Expansions

July 2025 is shaping up to be a dynamic month for global air travel, with several high-profile international route launches. Among the most anticipated moves is IndiGo’s first-ever expansion into long-haul Western Europe. The Indian low-cost carrier is launching 3X-weekly nonstop flights from Mumbai to both Amsterdam and Manchester on July 1 and 2, respectively. These routes are operated with Boeing 787-9s leased from Norse Atlantic Airways, making IndiGo the only Indian airline currently offering direct service on these routes and marking a major step into new territory for the carrier.
China Eastern Airlines is also broadening its European presence with two new links. A once-weekly flight from Nanjing to Paris Charles de Gaulle begins July 9, using a 777-300ER. On July 17, the airline will add a 3X-weekly service from Shanghai Pudong to Copenhagen, leveraging its SkyTeam partnership with SAS and operated with Airbus A330-200s. Access to Russian airspace continues to give Chinese airlines a competitive edge on European routes, helping shorten flight times compared to Western rivals still affected by sanctions.
From the Gulf, Emirates is increasing its China connectivity with new daily routes to Shenzhen (starting July 1) and Hangzhou (from July 30), both operated with 777-300ERs. These additions bring Emirates’ weekly departures to mainland China to 49, underlining growing demand for bilateral travel and trade.
Etihad Airways is entering the U.S. Southeast market with a new 4X-weekly route from Abu Dhabi to Atlanta, launching July 2 on Airbus A350-1000s. Daily service is expected by November. The expansion enhances Etihad’s U.S. network, which already includes major hubs like New York, Chicago and Washington.
In Asia, United Airlines will debut a new daily service between Tokyo Narita and Kaohsiung, Taiwan, starting July 11 with a Boeing 737-800. United becomes the only U.S. airline serving Taiwan’s second-largest city, reflecting continued expansion of intra-Asia operations by North American carriers.
Numerous other airlines are also launching notable international routes this month:
- Air Cambodia begins Phnom Penh–Shenzhen (2X weekly) from July 10.
- Air China starts Beijing–Cairo (3X weekly) on July 9.
- AirAsia opens Kuala Lumpur–Palembang (daily) from July 18.
- AirAsia Cambodia adds Siem Reap–Kuala Lumpur (daily) from July 1.
- Batik Air Malaysia launches Kuala Lumpur Subang–Bangkok Don Mueang (daily) on July 28.
- Centrum Air begins Tashkent–Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (2X weekly) July 4.
- Chalair adds Brive-La-Gaillarde–Brussels (2X weekly) from July 3.
- Dan Air opens Bucharest–Berlin (2X weekly) July 1.
- Ethiopian Airlines starts Addis Ababa–Abu Dhabi (daily) from July 15.
- FlyArystan adds Almaty–Tamchy (2X weekly) from July 3.
- Flynas launches Madinah–Baku (weekly) on July 6.
- Flyone Armenia debuts Yerevan–Rome Fiumicino (3X weekly) on July 2.
- Greater Bay Airlines adds Hong Kong–Koror (weekly) from July 4.
- Hainan Airlines launches Xi’an–Osaka Kansai (3X weekly) from July 20.
- Helvetic Airways opens Zurich–Ohrid (weekly) from July 5.
- Hong Kong Airlines starts Hong Kong–Xi’an (5X weekly) on July 18.
- Jazeera Airways adds Kuwait–Sochi (2X weekly) from July 7.
- Jeju Airlines begins Seoul Incheon–Singapore (daily) July 24.
- Jet2.com resumes London Luton–Ibiza (2X weekly) on July 4.
- Jetsmart starts Buenos Aires–Recife (4X weekly) July 1.
- Juneyao Airlines opens Wuxi–Jeju (4X weekly) from July 2.
- Kenya Airways launches Nairobi–London Gatwick (3X weekly) July 2.
- Kuwait Airways begins Kuwait–Luxor (3X weekly) from July 2.
- Loong Air opens Xi’an–Kuala Lumpur (3X weekly) July 5.
- MIAT Mongolian Airlines resumes Ulaanbaatar–Shanghai Pudong (2X weekly) from July 2.
- Philippine Airlines launches Manila–Da Nang (3X weekly) July 1.
- Play debuts Reykjavik–Valencia (2X weekly) July 22.
- Qanot Sharq adds Beijing Daxing–Tashkent (2X weekly) July 7.
- SAS starts Copenhagen–Cagliari (2X weekly) from July 1.
- Scat Airlines opens Shymkent–Xi’an (2X weekly) from July 2.
- Spring Airlines begins Shanghai Pudong–Hanoi (3X weekly) July 2.
- Thai AirAsia adds Bangkok Don Mueang–Haiphong (4X weekly) July 16.
- Tigerair Taiwan debuts Kaohsiung–Sendai (3X weekly) from July 16.
- Transavia France opens Marseille–Funchal (weekly) July 13.
- T’way Air starts Seoul Incheon–Vancouver (4X weekly) July 12.
- VietJet begins Hanoi–Xi’an (4X weekly) July 6.
- Volaris launches Guadalajara–Newark (4X weekly) July 1.
- Volaris Costa Rica debuts San Jose–Orlando (daily) from July 1.
- Volotea opens Bordeaux–Alghero (2X weekly) from July 4.
- WestJet starts Edmonton–Chicago O’Hare (weekly) July 2.
- Wizz Air Abu Dhabi adds Abu Dhabi–Asyut (3X weekly) July 2.
- Xiamen Airlines resumes Tianjin–Tokyo Haneda (2X weekly) from July 2.
With a mix of strategic long-haul launches, regional connections, and post-pandemic recovery efforts, July 2025 is poised to be one of the busiest months yet in global route development.
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