New Airline Routes in Brief: Azerbaijan Airlines, SunExpress, Malaysia Airlines, Delta Air Lines, IndiGo

Azerbaijan Airlines is preparing to resume flights to China before the end of the year. The carrier will restart nonstop Baku Heydar Aliyev International-Beijing Capital flights on Dec. 19, operating twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The sector was last served nonstop by the airline before the pandemic. “The decision to launch flights between the two capitals is aimed at meeting the growing demand for travel and strengthening dynamically developing ties between Azerbaijan and China,” Azerbaijan Airlines says in a statement.

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has reported that SunExpress plans to launch two new Turkish routes in summer 2024. Flights will connect the German capital with Diyarbakır and Kayseri. The airline expects to offer flights from BER to 10 destinations in Turkey next summer, with 56 departures per week. “Turkey was the second-most important destination after Spain from BER in summer 2023,” the airport says.

Malaysia Airlines subsidiary Firefly is launching a new route to Thailand. Service from Penang, Malaysia, to Bangkok Don Mueang will begin on Nov. 3. The LCC intends to offer two flights per week through March 30, 2024.

Delta Air Lines has announced that its seasonal service between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro, which returns on Dec. 16, will now operate year-round. The airline says the move is in “response to growing demand.” The extension was confirmed as Delta celebrated the first anniversary of its joint venture with LATAM Airlines Group.

IndiGo has made further additions to its domestic network in India. Flights have commenced from Khajuraho to New Delhi and Varanasi. The LCC will operate a daily nonstop service between Khajuraho and Varanasi, as well as flying Khajuraho-Varanasi-New Delhi daily. Khajuraho, formerly known as Kharjuravahaka, is one of Madhya Pradesh’s most popular tourist destinations.

Indian LCC IndiGo is launching three domestic routes from Salem, the fifth-largest city in the southern Tamil Nadu state. Daily flights to Chennai will start on Oct. 29, followed by 4X-weekly services to Hyderabad and Bengaluru on Oct. 30. Salem becomes the 82nd domestic and 114th overall destination in the airline’s network.

Air Montenegro is adding flights to Rome. Service from Podgorica will start on Dec. 15, operating twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. The carrier says the launch will “contribute to the improvement of the availability of the tourist offer of Montenegro to the Italian market.”