Each month, airlines around the world launch and announce dozens of new flight routes and service changes — and today, TPG Assistant Editor Matt Zuzolo shares just a few of the latest flights that will take to the skies this month or in the near future. Keep in mind that exact flight details (e.g., flight schedules, aircraft and more) could change based on travel dates.
NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2015
San Francisco (SFO) – Maui (OGG) on Virgin America (launched December 3, 2015)
Details — Virgin America expanded its service to Hawaii in December with the addition of a nonstop flight to Maui. In November, the airline also launched its first flight to Honolulu. Virgin will operate flights to and from Maui daily on its A320 aircraft. At present, Virgin doesn’t offer Wi-Fi on this route, but that service is coming in 2016.
Schedule:
Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday:
VX39 San Francisco 7:55am Departure ⇒ Maui 11:40am ArrivalVX42 Maui 1:10pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco 8:15pm Arrival
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday:
VX47 San Francisco 6:05pm Departure ⇒ Maui 9:50pm ArrivalVX48 Maui 11:20pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco 6:25am (+1) Arrival
Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) on American Airlines (launched December 2015)
Details — American launched its only flight to Sydney this month after a big announcement earlier this year. The airline will operate the flight daily with its three-class 777-300ER aircraft, and if you’re (very) lucky, you might even be able to find award space. While this route is new for AA, Oneworld partner Qantas has already been operating flights to LA and other cities in the US for some time.
Schedule (daily):
AA73 Los Angeles 9:50pm Departure ⇒ Sydney 7:55am (+2) ArrivalAA72 Sydney 12:00pm Departure ⇒ Los Angeles 6:50am Arrival
San Francisco (SFO) – New Delhi (DEL) on Air India (launched December 2, 2015)
Details — Air India grew its US presence this month with the addition of a new nonstop route between San Francisco and New Delhi. The flight clocks in at nearly 17 hours, making it one of the longest in the world. Air India operates its 777 aircraft on this route.
Schedule (three times weekly):
AI174 San Francisco 10:30am Departure ⇒ New Dehli 4:15pm (+1) ArrivalAI173 New Dehli 2:35am Departure ⇒ San Francisco 6:00am Arrival
Norwegian Air Flights to the Caribbean (launched December 3, 2015)
Details — Norwegian expanded service from the US this December with the addition of new flights to the Guadeloupe Islands and Martinique in the Caribbean from Baltimore (BWI), Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK). Flights are quite cheap compared to other Caribbean destinations, but just remember there might be extra fees for checked bags, food and more.
Here are the new routes:
- Baltimore (BWI) — Guadeloupe Islands (PTP)
- Baltimore (BWI) — Martinique (FDF)
- Boston (BOS) — Guadeloupe Islands (PTP)
- Boston (BOS) — Martinique (FDF)
- New York (JFK) — Guadeloupe Islands (PTP)
- New York (JFK) — Martinique (FDF)
RyanAir Flights from Milan (MXP) (launched December 3, 2015)
Details — Budget airline RyanAir added new flights from Milan to cities in continental Europe and the UK. Milan’s a great gateway to Europe, especially with Emirates’ frequent deals on its A380.
Here are the new routes:
- Milan (MXP) — London Stansted (STN)
- Milan (MXP) — Comiso (CIY)
- Milan (MXP) — Bucharest (OTP)
- Milan (MXP) — Seville (SVQ)
San Francisco (SFO) – Sydney (SYD) on Qantas (launched December 2015)
Details — Like its Oneworld partner American Airlines, Qantas is adding service between the US and Sydney, with a new route from San Francisco. The airline will operate the flight six times per week with its 747 aircraft. Over the next couple months, Qantas will ramp up its service, so check the schedule if you plan on traveling in the near future with the airline.
Schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday):
QF74 San Francisco 11:25pm Departure ⇒ Sydney 9:00am (+2) ArrivalQF73 Sydney 3:00pm Departure ⇒ San Francisco 9:30am Arrival
Dallas (DFW) – Tokyo Narita (NRT) on JAL (launched November 30, 2015)
Details — JAL launched nonstop service between Tokyo and Dallas at the very end of November. The flight, operated by its Dreamliner, will run four days per week, and joins an existing American Airlines flight servicing these cities.
Schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday):
JL011 Dallas 11:45am Departure ⇒ Tokyo 4:25pm (+1) ArrivalJL012 Tokyo 10:55am Departure ⇒ Dallas 7:20am Arrival
Houston (IAH) – Auckland (AKL) on Air New Zealand (launched December 15, 2015)
Details — Star Alliance partner Air New Zealand is also adding a new flight to the South Pacific with the introduction of nonstop service between Houston and Auckland. The flight operates up to five times per week on the airline’s 777 aircraft.
Schedule (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday):
NZ29 Houston 8:25pm Departure ⇒ Auckland 5:55am (+2) ArrivalNZ28 Auckland 6:30pm Departure ⇒ Houston 1:15pm Arrival
NEW ROUTES ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER 2015
New York (JFK) – Paris (ORY) on Air France (launching June 2016)
Details — Air France is adding to its New York flights next June with the introduction of a new route to Paris’ Orly Airport. The airline already has quite a few flights into the city’s main airport, Charles de Gaulle (CDG), but this will provide another flight option for passengers traveling between the two cities.
Schedule (daily):
AF37 New York 6:05pm Departure ⇒ Paris-Orly 7:05am (+1) ArrivalAF32 Paris-Orly 11:00am Departure ⇒ New York 1:10pm Arrival
Oakland (OAK) – London (LGW) on Norwegian Air (launching May 2016)
Details — Norwegian announced that it would be adding a new flight to the Bay Area next May. SF-based travelers can fly nonstop between Oakland and London-Gatwick on the airline’s Dreamliner, and might even want to try Norwegian’s comfortable premium class.
Schedule (Monday, Thursday, Sunday):
- DY7074 Oakland 7:55pm Departure ⇒ London 2:00pm (+1) Arrival
- DY7073 London 1:00pm Departure ⇒ Oakland 4:00pm Arrival
Honolulu (HNL) – Tokyo (NRT) on Hawaiian Airlines (launching July 2016)
Details — Hawaiian will be joining JAL with new service to Tokyo Narita from the US in 2016. The airline already has flights to Tokyo Haneda (HND), so this this announcement will add to the existing service to Japan. Flights to Narita will start in July using an A330 aircraft.
Schedule (daily):
- HA821 Honolulu 3:30pm Departure ⇒ Tokyo 7:00pm (+1) Arrival
- HA822 Tokyo 9:00pm Departure ⇒ Honolulu 9:55am Arrival
Los Angeles (LAX) – Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR) on Southwest Airlines (launching April 2016)
Details — Southwest is continuing its international expansion in 2016 with the addition of a flight between Los Angeles and Liberia, Costa Rica. Earlier this year, the airline began flying to other destinations from US cities, including flights from Houston to Costa Rica. This flight will operate daily.
Newark (EWR) – Brussels (BRU) expansion on United Airlines (launching May 2016)
Details — United announced that it would be expanding its nonstop service to Brussels with a second daily flight next summer. The airline already operates one daily flight on this route, so this could mean more award space for Europe-bound travelers — especially during the busy summer travel season.
Schedule (daily):
- UA44 Newark 9:30pm Departure ⇒ Brussels 11:30am (+1) Arrival
- UA45 Brussels 1:30pm Departure ⇒ Newark 4:20pm Arrival
San Francisco – Fiji on Fiji Airways (launching June 2016)
Details — Fiji Airways will add its third US destination in 2016 with nonstop service between Fiji and San Francisco using its A330 aircraft. The flight will operate twice weekly seasonally between the two cities.
Which of these routes are you most excited about?
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