New Airline Routes in Brief: IndiGo, Greater Bay Airlines, Lynx Air, Nordwind Airlines, Philippine Airlines

IndiGo has further expanded its Indian domestic network, beginning operations from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Flights commenced to New Delhi on Oct. 12, with service to Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Mumbai starting on Oct. 29. All four routes will be offered daily. Jaisalmer’s history traces back to the 12th century, and it has evolved into a popular tourist destination. The Jaisalmer Fort, also referred to as Sonar Qila, stands as the city’s most iconic landmark.

Greater Bay Airlines will launch 5X-weekly Hong Kong (HKG)–Manila (MNL) service from Nov. 8, 2023, making the Philippine capital the seventh destination in the Hong Kong-based startup’s network. Red-eye HB231 will depart HKG at 11:50 p.m. and arrive into MNL at 2:00 a.m. the next day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Return flight HB232 will leave MNL at 3:00 a.m. and land at HKG at 5:10 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The route will be serviced by one of the airline’s Boeing 737-800s.

Canada’s Lynx Air has inaugurated flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). The ULCC will serve the market 3X-weekly, adding to U.S. flights to Orlando and Los Angeles from YYZ. Its U.S. network from Toronto will grow further in the coming months with the addition of Tampa on Nov. 10 and Southwest Florida International on Dec. 31. “Toronto is our fastest-growing hub as it has historically been underserved by low-cost carriers, so airfares have been too high for too long,” new Lynx Air CEO Jim Sullivan says.

From Dec. 31, flights from Russia’s St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport to the island of Cayo Coco, Cuba, will open. Nordwind Airlines plans to operate the route using Boeing 777-200 aircraft through April 24, 2024.

Philippine Airlines intends to launch a new Cebu-Laoag route as part of efforts to improve connectivity between Northern Luzon and the central and southern Philippines. Flights will start on Dec. 15, operating twice a week every Tuesday and Friday.