I-Journey

Airlines are adding new nonstop routes at a fast clip this month. Turkish Airlines resumed its Middle East network with flights between Istanbul and Bahrain restarting July 6, Dammam July 10, and Kuwait July 11. Riyadh Air is expanding aggressively too, launching new service to Madrid and Manchester and adding a Riyadh–Kuala Lumpur route on July 30.

In Europe, TAP Air Portugal began five-times-weekly nonstop Lisbon–Athens service on July 1 using Airbus A320neo aircraft, while Air Canada’s new Montreal–Berlin route became the first A321XLR operation at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. China Eastern Airlines started 3X-weekly A350-900 flights between Shanghai and Dublin on July 20, and Brazil’s GOL Linhas Aereas entered the long-haul market for the first time with nonstop Rio de Janeiro–New York JFK service.

The route expansion is landing during the busiest stretch of the summer travel season, adding capacity right as demand peaks around the FIFA World Cup and ordinary vacation travel. For travelers, more nonstop options between secondary and major cities can mean shorter connections and more competitive fares on routes that used to require a layover.

Sources: Aviation Week, Business Travel News