British Airways (BA) has exciting news for travelers heading to Thailand this winter. The airline is expanding its codeshare partnership with Bangkok Airways, allowing passengers to book a single ticket from London to various holiday destinations in Thailand and Cambodia, including Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap. In addition to this codeshare expansion, BA is set to resume nonstop service between London Gatwick and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi starting October 28. Initially operating three times a week, the frequency will increase to up to five times a week between January and March 2025. BA’s Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, expressed his excitement about the return of direct flights to Thailand after more than four years and highlighted the popularity of these routes among leisure travelers.
Aer Lingus is also enhancing its offerings by launching three new routes from Dublin Airport to Marrakesh, Malta, and Seville this winter. The new services to Seville and Malta will begin on October 26, followed by the Marrakesh route the next day. All three routes will operate three times a week. Additionally, Aer Lingus plans to increase capacity on several existing routes and extend the operating season of certain destinations, such as Faro, Nice, Athens, and Bordeaux. These expansions aim to provide more options for travelers flying to and from Dublin.
Flydubai has made history by becoming the first United Arab Emirates-based carrier to serve EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport. The low-cost carrier has introduced a four times a week service from Dubai International Airport to Basel, adding to its extensive network in Europe. With the addition of Basel, Flydubai now serves 29 destinations across Europe, facilitating travel and trade in the region. The airline’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Operations and E-commerce, Jeyhun Efendi, highlighted the strategic importance of EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg as a hub for customers traveling between the UAE and Europe.
Royal Air Maroc is gearing up to launch a new route to Toronto in December and resume flights to Beijing Daxing in January 2025. The Casablanca-Toronto service will be operated three times a week using Boeing 787-8 aircraft, catering to the demand from the Moroccan community in Canada. The airline’s Chairman and CEO, Hamid Addou, emphasized the significance of this new route in meeting the needs of passengers traveling between Morocco and Canada. The resumed flights to Beijing Daxing will also offer more connectivity options for travelers starting next year.
Cebu Pacific, a Philippine low-cost carrier, is expanding its network by introducing new international and domestic routes from Davao. The airline will launch three times a week service between Davao and Bangkok-Don Mueang, Thailand, starting October 28. Additionally, daily flights to Caticlan and Puerto Princesa, as well as three times a week service to Tacloban, will enhance connectivity within the Philippines. Cebu Pacific is also set to increase frequencies on the Manila-Melbourne route in December, providing more travel options for passengers.
SunExpress, a joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, has announced a new route from Dalaman to Newcastle, England, starting May 4, 2025. The airline already operates flights from Antalya to Newcastle and plans to increase frequencies for the summer 2025 season. This expansion will offer more travel choices for passengers flying between Turkey and the UK.
Airlink, based in South Africa, is launching a new nonstop service connecting Cape Town and Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, from April 1, 2025. The route, operating on select days of the week, will utilize Embraer E140 aircraft to cater to both corporate traffic and leisure travelers. Airlink’s CEO and MD, Rodger Foster, highlighted the business and tourism opportunities that this new route will bring to the region, serving as a gateway to various industries and natural reserves.
Wizz Air is introducing two new routes from Malmö Airport, Sweden, to Bucharest and Iasi in Romania during the winter 2024-25 season. These flights, operated twice a week, aim to meet the high demand for international travel from Malmö. The Director of Aviation Business at Swedavia, Elizabeth Axtelius, emphasized the significance of these additional routes in catering to the travel needs of passengers flying between Sweden and Romania.
Lastly, Hainan Airlines has launched a new route connecting Shenzhen to Budapest Airport (BUD) twice a week using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This new route enhances connectivity between Hungary and China, with an expected increase in passenger traffic between the two countries. Budapest Airport anticipates a significant rise in passenger numbers compared to previous years, indicating a growing interest in travel between Hungary and China.