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Exciting New Airline Routes for December 2017 and Beyond

Dec. 28, 2017
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8 min read
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Exciting New Airline Routes for December 2017 and Beyond
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Airlines around the world launch and announce dozens of new flight routes and service changes every month. Today, we’ll share 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 (like schedules and aircraft, among other things) may change.

NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED IN DECEMBER 2017

Scoot Starts One-Stop Service Between Hawaii and Singapore (launched December 19)

Photo by M Swiet Productions / Getty Images.

Details — Scoot, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, recently launched a new route between Singapore (SIN) and Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL) via a stop in Osaka, Japan (KIX). On the bright side, you can expect to fly on the airline's 787-8 Dreamliner and have more options to choose from when traveling between the three cities (tickets for each leg can be booked separately). The downside: extra fees for bags, meals, entertainment and in-seat power can really add up — Scoot is a low-cost carrier after all.

Monday, Tuesday, Saturday:

  • TR 700 Singapore (SIN) 10:45am Departure → Osaka (KIX) 5:30pm Arrival
  • TR 700 Osaka (KIX) 7:25pm Departure → Honolulu (HNL) 7:30am Arrival

Friday:

  • TR 700 Singapore (SIN) 9:55am Departure → Osaka (KIX) 4:55pm Arrival
  • TR 700 Osaka (KIX) 6:50pm Departure → Honolulu (HNL) 7:00am Arrival

Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday:

  • TR 701 Honolulu (HNL) 9:35am Departure → Osaka (KIX) 2:00pm (+1) Arrival

Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday:

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  • TR 701 Osaka (KIX) 3:10pm Departure → Singapore (SIN) 9:10pm Arrival

Avianca Brazil Begins Nonstop Flights from New York to São Paulo (launched December 15)

Photo by Bambu Productions / Getty Images.

Details — Earlier this month, Avianca Brazil became the fourth airline to fly nonstop between New York (JFK) and São Paulo (GRU), offering flights aboard its A330-200. Delta currently operates the same route with an A330, while American Airlines and LATAM use a 777 and an A350, respectively.

Schedule (daily):

  • AV 8500 São Paulo (GRU) 11:45pm Departure → New York City (JFK) 6:45am (+1) Arrival
  • AV 8501 New York City (JFK) 11:30pm Departure → São Paulo (GRU) 12:30pm (+1) Arrival

Alaska Airlines Adds Nonstop Service from San Francisco to Kona (launched December 14)

Photo by Sam Antonio Photography / Getty Images.

Details — Calling all Bay Area folks in the mood for a tropical getaway: As of December 14, you can fly nonstop from San Francisco (SFO) to Kona (KOA) — on Hawaii's Big Island — with this new Alaska Airlines route. With daily flights aboard Virgin America's A320s, those swaying palm trees, impressive volcanoes and beautiful beaches you've been dreaming about just got a whole lot closer.

Schedule (daily):

  • AS 1041 San Francisco (SFO) 11:30am Departure → Kona (KOA) 3:15pm Arrival
  • AS 1042 Kona (KOA) 4:15pm Departure → San Francisco (SFO) 11:17pm Arrival

New Nonstop Flights from LA to Shenzhen on Air China (launched December 7)

Photo by Zhen Xue / Getty Images.

Details — Travelers will now have another option for flying nonstop between Los Angeles (LAX) and Shenzhen (SZX) thanks to new thrice-weekly service by Air China aboard the carrier's 787-9 Dreamliner. Note that Shenzhen is only about 20 miles from Hong Kong, so this could be a good way to get there, too.

Schedule: (3x per week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday):

  • CA769 Shenzhen (SZX) 11:30pm Departure → Los Angeles (LAX) 8:00pm Arrival
  • CA770 Los Angeles (LAX) 10:50pm Departure → Shenzhen (SZX) 5:40am (+2) Arrival

American Airlines Offers More Routes from the US to Rio and Cartagena (launched December 15)

Photo by Jesse Kraft / EyeEm / Getty Images.

Details — American Airlines expanded its South America service this month by adding new routes between Dallas (DFW) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG), and Miami (MIA) and Cartagena (CTG). The Rio route will be serviced by the airline's 767-300s, while flights to and from Cartagena will be operated by AA's A319s.

Rio de Janeiro (3x per week):

  • AA 223 Dallas (DFW) 6:50pm Departure → Rio de Janeiro (GIG) 9:20am (+1) Arrival
  • AA 224 Rio de Janeiro (GIG) 11:00pm Departure → Dallas (DFW) 5:45am (+1) Arrival

Cartagena (daily):

  • AA 1145 Miami (MIA) 10:50am Departure → Cartagena (CTG) 1:46pm Arrival
  • AA 1144 Cartagena (CTG) 2:40pm Departure → Miami (MIA) 5:55pm Arrival

NEW ROUTES ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER 2017

United Announces New Nonstop Flights from San Francisco to Tahiti

Photo by Sarayuth Nutteepratoom / EyeEm / Getty Images.

Details — From October 30, 2018, to March 28, 2019, United Airlines says it will operate thrice-weekly seasonal service from San Francisco (SFO) to Papeete (PPT) aboard the carrier's 787 Dreamliner. From Papeete, it's just a short hop to the nearby islands of Bora Bora and Moorea, making your ultimate Tahiti dream trip more accessible than ever.

Schedule (3x per week on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday):

  • UA115 San Francisco (SFO) 2:45pm Departure → Papeete (PPT) 9:25pm Arrival
  • UA114 Papeete (PPT) 11:45pm Departure → San Francisco (SFO) 9:50am (+1) Arrival

Air Canada to Expand Service to Several US Cities

Photo by Henryk Sadura / Getty Images.

Details — Air Canada is planning to kick its US expansion into high gear next year by adding six new routes to its Air Canada Express lineup. Daily flights from Baltimore/Washington DC (BWI) to Montreal (YUL), Omaha (OMA) to Toronto (YYZ), Pittsburgh (PIT) to YUL, and Providence (PVD) to YYZ will be operated by Bombardier CRJs with 50 seats. Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Edmonton (YEG) and Sacramento (SMF) to Vancouver (YVR) will be operated by a mix of Bombardier CRJ 700s with 75 seats and CRJ 900s with 76 seats.

Schedule (daily, starting May 1):

  • San Francisco (SFO) – Edmonton (YEG)
  • Omaha (OMA) – Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

Schedule (daily, starting May 17):

  • Baltimore/Washington DC (BWI) – Montreal YUL)
  • Pittsburgh (PIT) – Montreal (YUL)
  • Providence (PVD) – Toronto Pearson (YYZ)
  • Sacramento (SMF) – Vancouver (YVR)

Fly Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong to Washington, DC

Photo by Photography by Jeremy Villasis / Getty Images.

Details — Great news for anyone on the East Coast looking to visit Asia: As of September 15, 2018, you'll be able to fly nonstop between Washington, DC (IAD) and Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific. The route will be operated by the carrier's new A350-1000 XWB, a larger and more exciting aircraft than its A350-900 predecessor.

Schedule (4x per week):

  • CX861 Washington, DC (IAD) 1:15am Departure → Hong Kong (HKG) 5:10am (+1) Arrival
  • CX860 Hong Kong (HKG) 6:35pm Departure → Washington, DC (IAD) 10:20pm Arrival

Hawaiian Airlines to Add Service Between San Diego and Maui, Several Seasonal Flights

Photo by Andrew Wilson / EyeEm / Getty Images.

Details — It'll soon be easier to get from San Francisco (SFO) to Maui (OGG) once Hawaiian Airlines' new daily nonstop service begins May 1, 2018. Also slated for next year are four new seasonal flights between SFO and Honolulu (HNL), Oakland (OAK) and Kona (KOA), Los Angeles (LAX) and Maui (OGG), as well as international summer service between HNL and Tokyo (NRT).

Schedule (daily):

  • HA37 San Diego (SAN) 8:15am Departure → Kahului (OGG) 11:15am Arrival
  • HA38 Kahului (OGG) 12:50pm Departure → San Diego (SAN) 9:10pm Arrival

Daily, from May 25 – July 31, 2018:

  • HA53 San Francisco (SFO) 8:00am Departure → Honolulu (HNL) 10:35am Arrival
  • HA54 Honolulu (HNL) 9:50pm Departure → San Francisco (SFO) 6:00am (+1) Arrival

Daily, from May 26 – September 2, 2018:

  • HA65 Oakland (OAK) 11:30am Departure → Kona (KOA) 1:55pm Arrival
  • HA66 Kona (KOA) 3:30pm Departure → Oakland (OAK) 11:35pm Arrival

Daily, from June 1 – August 31, 2018:

  • HA55 Los Angeles (LAX) 1:30pm Departure → Maui (OGG) 4:15pm Arrival
  • HA56 Maui (OGG) 10:00pm Departure → Los Angeles (LAX) 6:05am (+1) Arrival

Daily, from August 1 – September 30, 2018:

  • HA824 Tokyo (NRT) 9:30pm Departure → Honolulu (HNL) 10:20am Arrival
  • HA823 Honolulu (HNL) 4:05pm Departure → Tokyo (NRT) 7:30pm (+1) Arrival

Delta Plans Nonstop Flights from LA to Shanghai

Photo by shanghaiface / Getty Images.

Details — Delta's planning to launch new service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Shanghai (PVG) aboard its A350-900 XWB aircraft, flying every other day starting July 2 and making the switch to daily service by July 18, 2018.

Schedule (daily):

  • DL89 Los Angeles (LAX) 1:25pm Departure → Shanghai (PVG) 5:50pm (+1) Arrival
  • DL88 Shanghai (PVG) 8:15pm Departure → Los Angeles (LAX) 5:35pm Arrival

Which of these new routes are you most excited about?

Additional reporting by Jeffrey Preis. Featured image by levente bodo / Getty Images.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.