‍DALLAS — The first week of April 2025 has seen a significant expansion in global air connectivity, with airlines launching over 15 new routes connecting cities across Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. 

Major carriers, including Air Canada, Vietnam Airlines, and Saudia, have inaugurated strategic new services, while regional players have strengthened their networks with new domestic and international connections. 

Whether short or long-haul, global airlines continue to focus on utilizing next-generation aircraft for long-haul efficiency while expanding into underserved markets. We’ll examine the week’s newly announced routes by region.

Asian Carriers Expand International Presence

Vietnam's Growing Chinese Connections

Vietnamese carriers have significantly expanded their presence in China this week. On April 1, Vietnam Airlines (VN) launched a new route between Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), operating five times weekly using Airbus A321 aircraft. This expansion is timely, as Vietnam welcomed 3.7 million Chinese visitors in 2024—a remarkable 214% increase from the previous year.

The following day, Vietjet (VJ) launched four new nonstop routes connecting Vietnam and China: daily services from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Beijing Daxing (PKX) and Guangzhou (CAN) and from Hanoi (HAN) to Guangzhou (CAN). 

Flights between Hanoi (HAN) and Beijing (PKX) currently operate three times weekly but will increase to daily service starting April 27. Additionally, VJ will begin daily operations between Hanoi and Shanghai on April 29, further strengthening connectivity between Vietnam and China.

South Korean Expansion into Central Europe

Asiana Airlines (OZ) expanded its European footprint on April 1 by launching service between Seoul Incheon (ICN) and Prague (PRG) using A350-900 aircraft. This addition brings the Czech capital into Asiana's European network, which already includes Barcelona, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Paris, and Rome, and enhances connectivity between East Asia and Central Europe.

Middle Eastern, Oceanian Long-Haul Developments

Saudia's Network Growth

Saudi Arabia's flag carrier Saudia (SV) has been particularly active this week, inaugurating two new international routes. On March 31, the airline launched a service connecting Jeddah (JED) to Bali (DPS), Indonesia, operating three times a week with Boeing 787 aircraft. This marks SV's second destination in Indonesia after Jakarta.

On April 2, SV also inaugurated seasonal service between Jeddah (JED) and Vienna (VIE), operating three times weekly with Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline has further expansion plans, with flights from Riyadh (RUH) to Vienna scheduled to begin in June 2025.

Qantas Links Northern Australia to Southeast Asia

Qantas (QF) bolstered its Asian network on March 31 by launching a new route that connects Darwin (DRW) and Singapore (SIN). The service runs four times a week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, adding over 70,000 seats annually between Australia's Northern Territory and Singapore.

This launch is part of QF's broader expansion in the Northern Territory, which includes more than 180,000 additional seats and two new routes announced for 2025.

North American Carriers Expand Transpacific, European Services

Air Canada's New Asian Connection

In a significant network development, Air Canada (AC) launched its first-ever service to the Philippines on April 2, initiating three weekly flights between Vancouver (YVR) and Manila (MNL) using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The frequency will rise to four weekly flights in May. This route marks AC's 12th Asia-Pacific destination from Vancouver and aims at the substantial Filipino-Canadian community of over 900,000 people.

Additionally, AC has confirmed a new route between Montreal (YUL) and Edinburgh (EDI) starting June 26, which will operate three times a week using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The carrier is also increasing capacity on key European routes by adding nearly 1,300 weekly seats to Paris and Athens, and extending its Toronto-Rome schedule through October.

Finally, United Airlines (UA) announced on April 3 that it would add 20% more flying out of San Francisco International Airport (SFO) this year. UA will offer "new and only flights on a U.S. carrier to Bangkok, Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Adelaide, Australia, and a second daily flight to Manila, Philippines to start later this year."

European Carriers Launch New Services

LOT Polish Airlines Connects Krakow with Paris

On March 31, LOT Polish Airlines (LO) launched a new route between Krakow (KRK) and Paris Orly (ORY). Initially operating six times a week, the service will become daily year-round starting April 14, using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The airline expects over 600,000 passengers to travel between Krakow and France in 2025.

ITA Airways, Condor Strengthen European Networks

Italian flag carrier ITA Airways (AZ) launched a new service from Milan Linate (LIN) to Munich (MUC) on April 1 as part of its expanded summer 2025 schedule. The route will operate 12 times a week, contributing to the airline's summer network of 59 destinations—16 intercontinental, 27 international, and 16 domestic.

German leisure airline Condor (DE) opened a new base at Vienna Airport (VIE) on April 1. The carrier launched daily flights to Frankfurt (FRA) and direct summer services to Mediterranean destinations, including Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Kos (KGS), and Rhodes (RHO). 

This marks the first time Condor has stationed an aircraft in Austria. The carrier also inaugurated Frankfurt-Zurich and Frankfurt-Munich services, each operating twice daily.

Latin American Network Developments

Colombian Domestic, International Expansion

Avianca (AV) launched nonstop service between Bogotá (BOG) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) on March 30, marking the Colombian carrier's debut at TPA and the airport's first-ever flights to South America. The new route operates four times per week using 180-seat Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Additionally, AV expanded its route network by launching four new nonstop flights, including TPA, enhancing connectivity between the US, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. These new AV routes will provide approximately 8,000 weekly seats.

In the domestic market, the Chilean low-cost carrier JetSMART (JA) launched a new route in Colombia on April 2, connecting Cali (CLO) and Bogotá (BOG) with 21 weekly flights operated by Airbus A320neo aircraft. This route puts JA in competition with AV, LATAM Airlines Colombia (4C), Wingo (P5), and Clic Air (VE).

United Kingdom's Newest Base Opening

British leisure airline Jet2.com (LS) launched operations from its 13th UK base at London Luton Airport (LTN) on April 1. The inaugural flight departed for Palma de Mallorca (PMI), followed by departures to Tenerife (TFS) and Antalya (AYT), kicking off a summer schedule that features 17 destinations across Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, and Italy.

Two Airbus A321neo aircraft will be stationed at LTN, offering up to 36 weekly flights during the peak summer period. London Luton becomes LS' second new base in 2025, following Bournemouth's debut in February.

Upcoming Route Launches

Although not yet operational, several significant routes were finalized this week for imminent launch. LATAM Airlines Group (LA) will resume service to Europe from Brazil's northeast on April 7, introducing weekly Boeing 787 flights between Fortaleza (FOR) and Lisbon (LIS), thus putting the carrier in competition with TAP Air Portugal's (TP) daily service.

Aer Lingus (EI) is set to begin flights between Dublin (DUB) and Nashville (BNA) on April 12, using its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft, which allows for more efficient operation of thinner transatlantic routes. Similarly, Icelandair will start serving Reykjavik Keflavik (KEF) to Nashville (BNA) on April 10.

Conclusion

This week's airline route developments sees a focus on important tourism corridors, diaspora connections, and efficient aircraft deployment illustrates how airlines are adapting to changing market conditions while improving global connectivity.

 The wide array of new routes—from Vietnamese carriers expanding into China to European airlines reinforcing continental networks—reflects how carriers adapt and prepare for the peak summer travel season.

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