Exciting new airline routes from May 2024 and beyond
The official start of summer is still a few weeks away, and the airline network planners haven't been taking any vacations just yet.
This month, major U.S. airlines continued to file new routes and make stealth cuts to their schedules, many of which were first seen in Cirium Diio timetables.
One of the most notable stories was about how the biggest carriers have been jockeying for newly issued slots, or takeoff and landing permissions, for long-distance flights at the convenient Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) just outside Washington, D.C.
Airlines have just submitted their first pitches for these flights; we'll hear more about the outcome in the coming weeks and months.
In addition to the frenzy at DCA, many other airports received new routes this month — you'll catch all the details in our comprehensive monthly roundup below.
Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...
American Airlines
American Airlines entered May as the largest U.S. airline in the Caribbean and Latin America. It extended its stronghold in this region by adding eight new winter routes, most from either New York or Philadelphia.
Highlights of this expansion include new service to La Romana in the Dominican Republic. This outstation hasn't seen American service since 2017.
Separately, American is boosting its Landline bus partnership by adding two new connections to its Philadelphia hub. These new bus routes from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Pennsylvania and Wilmington Airport (ILG) in Delaware will give flyers more one-stop itinerary options — even if one leg of the journey is operated by a bus service.
- American Airlines adds 2 new Landline bus routes at its Philadelphia hub
- American adds 8 new routes to the Caribbean, Latin America
Avelo Airlines
Avelo didn't make too many splashy announcements this month, but it did add service from its New Haven, Connecticut, base to Dulles International Airport (IAD) near D.C. This short regional flight should give travelers a new, faster way to get from New Haven to the nation's capital.
Meanwhile, the airline scrapped one route — Santa Rosa, California, to Pasco, Washington — just two weeks after it started. Avelo blamed the cut on low demand.
Delta Air Lines
This month, Delta Air Lines made some big changes to routes operated by its smallest and largest planes.
In terms of smallest planes, Delta debuted the first routes for its spacious CRJ-550 regional jet, which will feature a walk-up onboard bar in first class and baggage storage closets for all passengers. United Airlines was the first carrier to debut this unique configuration, and starting in July, Delta will do the same from its Salt Lake City hub to Butte, Montana; Cedar City, Utah; Elko, Nevada; and West Yellowstone, Montana.
Elsewhere, Delta added its 10th route to Amsterdam — this one is from Tampa. The airline also unveiled 50 new nonstop flights for the college football season, and it even added more routes to its Latin America schedule.
Finally, the airline made its Los Angeles-to-Auckland service seasonal, and it scrapped plans to resume flights from LA to Shanghai.
- Delta unveils more than 50 special nonstop flights for college football season
- Delta adds 4 routes to largest-ever Latin America schedule
- Delta unveils 10th Amsterdam route with nonstops from Tampa
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines is showering San Jose, California, with some love once again.
The airline pulled out of the city in 2019, but five years later, it's coming back with five new routes. This includes service to Denver, Las Vegas, LA, Phoenix and San Diego.
JetBlue
JetBlue made some major changes in May as it seeks to return to profitability. These include cutting transatlantic service during the winter season and reducing flights to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
The airline will grow in more lucractive markets, including Boston and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Finally, JetBlue will also deploy its Mint business-class product on six new routes, including New York-San Juan; New York-Vancouver, British Columbia; Fort Lauderdale-Las Vegas; Fort Lauderdale-Phoenix; Boston-Phoenix; and New York-Phoenix.
JSX
JSX, the luxe premium air carrier flying 30-set jets, announced that new nonstop flights between Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Scottsdale Airport (SCF) in Arizona will begin Oct. 3.
These new flights will operate on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. The service will be timed to allow flyers to connect from Dallas to Orange County (and vice versa) with convenient one-stop, same-plane service via Scottsdale.
Additionally, JSX will relaunch summer-seasonal service to Taos, New Mexico, on June 28. The carrier will operate three weekly flights to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) — situated roughly halfway between Boulder, Colorado, and Denver — and two weekly flights to DAL. These seasonal flights run through Sept. 29.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines continues to tweak its network with more flights to popular hub cities. This month's latest expansion includes a rare new shuttle route from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
This 224-mile route is already blanketed with service, but Spirit is likely hoping it will help unlock new connecting itineraries for its customers.
Finally, the airline is temporarily scrapping all international flights from Houston due to weak demand.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines made another major network change this month. This time, it added seven new routes, three of which are from Las Vegas. Six of the seven new routes are uncontested, so Southwest is likely capitalizing on the monopoly opportunity when launching these new routes.
It's not all great news, though, since the carrier is phasing out four routes. Two are from Denver, where the competition with United has been getting heated.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country is adding two new routes from Milwaukee this winter. These include new ways to reach Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic and Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
United Airlines
United's network planners had perhaps the busiest month of all the U.S. airlines.
The airline added a new cross-country flight from IAD to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). It also debuted new service from IAD to Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) in Greensboro, North Carolina, and from IAD to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) in South Carolina.
United also tweaked its long-haul network by cutting two high-profile routes: LA to Auckland, New Zealand, and LA to Brisbane, Australia.
The airline also upgraded the Newark-to-Tenerife, Spain, flight to year-round service.
All of this news comes as the carrier received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to once again add new routes. With this approval, I wouldn't be shocked to see the carrier make some more additions to its network in the coming weeks.
- United's latest cross-country route a big win for both Washington, DC, and Palm Springs
- United cuts 2 Australia, New Zealand routes, tapping brakes on rapid Pacific growth
Aer Lingus
The Irish flag carrier felt lucky in May when it added a new service connecting Dublin and Las Vegas, which will debut this fall.
The new route will be a seasonal offering, with Aer Lingus flying three times weekly to the Nevada desert.
Flair Airlines
Canadian low-cost carrier Flair Airlines is making a big change in Florida. It's shifting service from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) to Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Flair will connect Orlando with Toronto; Saint John, New Brunswick; London, Ontario; and Waterloo, Ontario. Without Flair, SFB will no longer have any international flights.
Porter Airlines
Another Canadian low-cost carrier, Porter Airlines, announced that it will launch service from Toronto to Phoenix on Oct. 3.
The airline will operate the flight on a once-daily basis.
Tui Airways
British carrier Tui Airways will begin flying from Dublin to Melbourne, Florida, on June 24. This new flight will be operated once weekly on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
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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.