Welcome to my 116th weekly routes article! I’ve analyzed just a few subjectively exciting examples of routes that took off recently, whether for the primary time or just returning. Take a take a look at last week’s edition by clicking here.
Brisbane’s latest long-haul routes
Australian LCC Jetstar, owned by Qantas, has began two more long-haul routes from Brisbane, the capital of, and most populous city in, the tourist state of Queensland.
Photo: Jetstar
On February 1, it began flying to Seoul Incheon (three weekly), followed the following day by Osaka Kansai (4 weekly). Each routes use Jetstar’s 787-8s, which is its only widebody equipment. They add to already-served Denpasar Bali and Tokyo Narita; the latter began in October 2023.
While Osaka last had non-stop Brisbane flights by Japan Airlines in 2008, Jetstar competes directly with Korean Air to Seoul (every day). The 2 latest routes got here as Jetstar replaced the A320ceo with the A321neo between Brisbane and Auckland.
Photo: Jetstar
Jetstar Boeing 787 Dreamliner Links Brisbane To Seoul And Osaka
Brisbane Airport has added more international seats and destinations, with Jetstar launching services to South Korea and Japan this week.
Three latest routes for Breeze
On January 31, fast-growing Breeze began Tampa-Burlington, joined three days later by Tampa-Plattsburgh. Neither route has ever had non-stop flights before. While the Vermont airport is latest to Breeze’s network, it has been flying to Plattsburgh since November 2023 (from Orlando).
Breeze serves each Tampa routes twice-weekly using the A220-300. The precise frequency and equipment also apply to Orlando-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which was introduced on January 30. The market was last served by Hooters Air (remember them?!) in 2005-2006. Yep, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton can also be latest to Breeze’s network.
The carrier’s next route from Tampa – to Madison – starts on February 7; Sun Country last operated between 2018 and 2020. 4 more Orlando routes start in February: Burlington, Evansville, Madison, and Stewart.
Take off: Prague to Abu Dhabi
In an intriguing development, Czech carrier Smartwings has began a once-weekly charter service from Prague to Abu Dhabi on behalf of tour operators. The two,790-mile (4,489 km) airport pair uses the 189-seat 737 MAX 8. It was last served by CSA, or Czech Airlines, between 2010 and 2014.
Photo: Prague Airport
QZ4102 leaves Prague at 10:20 and arrives within the UAE at 19:20 local. Returning, QZ4103 departs at 20:10 and returns at 23:55. In keeping with Flightradar24, the primary outbound service took 5h 45m, while it *seems* that the primary inbound flight stopped in Heraklion, although I cannot confirm this.
Smartwings already has charter flights to Abu Dhabi for Etihad Holidays. On October 14, 2023, it began flying from Leipzig, followed the following day by Cologne and Nuremberg on October 16. All are served two- to three-weekly.
Photo: Prague Airport
Binter begins Madrid: 8 every day!
Given the raft of competitors, you may not expect Binter Canarias to start flying to Madrid – however it has. And not only at a nominal level but at a substantial level. Flights do, after all, use its only jet equipment: the 132-seat E195-E2.
On February 1, it commenced two routes to the Spanish capital from Gran Canaria and Tenerife South. Each have 4 every day flights in each direction. The carrier offers an honest product, including inclusive IFE and food, and, after all, the 2-2 layout.
Photo: Binter Canarias
Triple Delivery: Embraer Flies Three E195-E2s To Binter Canarias
They were delivered in December ahead of the brand new Madrid operation.
McAllen regains international flights
Situated on the US-Mexican border, the Texas city of McAllen has regained its only international service. It’s operated by Aeromexico Connect from Mexico City Felipe Ángeles, an airport that opened to industrial flights in 2022.
The 444-mile (715 km) route is served every day using Connect’s sole aircraft type, the 99-seat E190-E1. McAllen is one among two US destinations from Felipe Ángeles, joining Houston Intercontinental.
Photo: Aeromexico
McAllen is not any stranger to Mexican flights. While they date back many years, examining the past 20 years shows that Continental Express – yes – used ERJs between 2004 and 2007. It was replaced by Aeromar and its ATRs from 2013 until that carrier’s demise a decade later.
Bonza’s 1st birthday
While not celebrating a brand new route, I’m pleased to incorporate a temporary bit concerning the first anniversary of Bonza, Australia’s only independent LCC. It focuses on unserved leisure markets, the overwhelming majority of that are unserved – and plenty of have never been served before.
It goals to make air travel cheaper, quicker, and easier as passengers don’t have to fly via a hub. It’s the concept of ‘twice as fast for half the worth’. Like other (U)LCCs, it’s all about stimulating demand by offering non-stop flights, great promotions, and low average fares.
Photo: bonza
I helped Bonza’s founder and CEO, Tim Jordan, with route data and marketing strategy things ahead of gaining its investment, so I’m truly delighted to see it develop. You may read recommendations of my work by Tim after which CCO Carly on my LinkedIn page.
Bonza currently has three bases on the Sunshine Coast, Melbourne, and the Gold Coast. For the reason that LCC’s revenue-generating flight, some 22 airports and 44 routes have been served. Naturally, not every part has worked – nor would you expect it to.
Photo: Bonza
Allow us to hope demand has been stimulated enough to make sure sufficiently high loads, crucially including at off-peak times and through shoulder months, with out a disproportionate impact on fares and yields.
The newest path to be announced is the Sunshine Coast to Launceston, the Sunny Coast’s largest unserved domestic market. With twice-weekly flights and great times, this leisure market will hopefully do thoroughly.
Cathay is back in Chennai & Colombo
It has taken almost 4 years, but Cathay Pacific has finally reinstated flights from Hong Kong to Chennai and Colombo. Each cities are served thrice weekly using the A330-300. (Notice the amusingly erroneous aircraft pictured on one among the next cake photos.)
Cirium data shows that every route is scheduled to be every day from April, but only three flights each week are bookable. It’s unclear if it will change. In 2019, Hong Kong-Chennai had about 68,000 point-to-point passengers, while Colombo had about 53,000. Obviously, numerous people connected to other flights in Hong Kong.
While Cathay has never had direct competition to Chennai, it’s different to Colombo: it faced SriLankan Airlines regularly until 2018. Cathay now serves seven airports in South Asia on a passenger basis. An eighth, Hyderabad, is scheduled to return at the top of March, however it just isn’t (yet?) bookable.
Cathay Pacific Resumes Non-Stop Flight Between Chennai And Hong Kong
The service resumed after a four-year absence as a consequence of COVID-19.
avianca returns to Caracas
Despite the issues afflicting Venezuela, the capital, Caracas, has gained – or slightly regained – one other carrier. After a seven-year hiatus, Colombia’s avianca has recommenced flying from Bogotá.
It serves the 636-mile (1,023 km) route 4 weekly using the A320. It’s one among 4 operators, alongside Laser (three weekly MD80), LATAM (4 weekly A320), and Wingo (4 weekly 737-800). They shall be joined by Venezula’s Avior on March 5 (twice-weekly 737-400).
Wish to fly? Take a look at the flights here.
It’s unclear if Venezuela’s Turpial is working: while 737-400 flights to Bogota are shown on Flightradar24, there isn’t a indication that they’ve taken off. As also they are not listed on its website, the carrier presumably doesn’t operate the route.
Then there may be…
The additions mentioned above come amid various other launches up to now week. Examples include Cyprus Airways from Larnaca to Brussels, Eurowings from Düsseldorf to Kuusamo, and Edelweiss from Zurich to each Ivalo and Kuusamo.
Then there may be China Eastern from Shanghai Pudong to Cairns, which was the primary flight from China to the Far North Queensland tourist destination in 4 years. It’s a giant development for Australia’s Tropical North.
Photo: Cairns Airport
WestJet began Victoria-Las Vegas, Gulf Air inaugurated Bahrain-Al Ula, Indonesia AirAsia launched flights between Jakarta and Kota Kinabalu, Norwegian began Aalborg-Funchal, Loong Air Hangzhou-Kuala Lumpur…
That is all for now, folks. See you next time.