Airline and Airport Weekly News In Brief: Launch of New Air Routes Globally

January 2024 marks a notable period in global aviation, with the introduction of 50 new air routes by various airlines, showcasing significant expansions and returns to key markets.

Chile’s Sky Airline is making a notable comeback in Uruguay, resuming services to Montevideo’s Carrasco International Airport (MVD) from its hubs in Santiago, Chile (SCL), and Lima, Peru (LIM). This marks the airline’s return to Uruguay since the pandemic-induced hiatus. Additionally, Sky Airline is launching fifth-freedom services to Florianópolis (FLN) and Salvador de Bahía (SSA) in Brazil, with three weekly flights scheduled for each route.

Aeromexico is starting 2024 by expanding its U.S. presence with three new transborder routes, following Mexico’s restoration of the Category 1 safety rating by the FAA. The airline will initiate daily flights from Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, to Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, along with a six-times-weekly service between Queretaro, Mexico, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Hainan Airlines is re-entering the African market with a new route from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport to Cairo International Airport, starting January 21. This move also marks the airline’s return to the Egyptian market, where it previously operated a direct route to Cairo from Beijing.

Qatar Airways is expanding its network with new flights to Medan, Indonesia, starting January 15. Meanwhile, Lufthansa is set to resume its service to Hyderabad, India, on January 16, reviving the route after a decade-long absence. The Frankfurt-Hyderabad service will operate five times weekly using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

These new routes, part of a larger list of 50, reflect the dynamic changes and growth in the global aviation industry, with airlines seeking to capitalize on emerging market opportunities and restore pre-pandemic connectivity. This expansion is a positive sign for the aviation sector, indicating recovery and growth as the world continues to navigate the post-pandemic era.