New route announcements and returning services across the Americas region.
Mexican ULCC Viva Aerobus is adding a new country to its network from June when it launches flights to Ecuador for the first time. Service between Mexico and Ecuador is currently limited to one nonstop route linking Mexico City Juarez (MEX) and Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International (UIO), operated daily by Aeromexico using Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s. Viva Aerobus will also serve Quito but will fly to the city from the leisure destination Cancun (CUN), located on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea. Operations on the 2,525 km (1,363 nm) route will begin on June 16 operating three times per week aboard Airbus A320s.
AIR TRANSAT
Taiwan’s EVA Air is increasing its schedule to North America. From March 27, service from Taipei Taoyuan (TPE) to Los Angeles (LAX) will increase from 2X-daily to 3X-daily using Boeing 777-300ERs, and from May 1 service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) rises from 3X-weekly to daily. From May 15, EVA is also expanding San Francisco (SFO) from 2X-daily. Following the adjustments, the carrier’s service to North America will rise to 84 frequencies per week.
Colombian carrier Avianca is launching two new routes from Medellin (MDE). From April 2, a domestic service to Armenia (AXM) will begin, operating four times per week. Flights to Aruba (AUA) will launch from June 1 with four frequencies per week. Both routes will use A320s.
ROB FINLAYSON
Lynx Air is to start flying to Montreal during the summer season—becoming its 15th destination in North America—while Air Transat is also expanding service from the Canadian city. Two domestic routes are being launched by Canadian ULCC Lynx, connecting Montreal-Trudeau International (YUL) to both Calgary International (YYC) and St. John’s International (YYT). The first flights will start on June 5 and frequencies will range from two to four services per week. Air Transat has also confirmed that it plans to offer nonstop year-round flights between Montreal and Lyon in France. The airline already flies to Lyon-Saint Exupéry (LYS) up to 7X-weekly during the summer season and will continue the route during the winter with 3X-weekly frequencies using Airbus A321LRs.
Avelo Airlines is adding two routes each from its Burbank (BUR) and Orlando (MCO) bases, adding three new destinations to its growing network. From May 3, the airline will open service between BUR and Colorado Springs (COS). The carrier will operate the route 3X-weekly. A second route from BUR will start on May 17 to Brownsville South Padre Island (BRO) in Texas, operating 2X-weekly. From Orlando, the LCC is adding a 2X-weekly link to Charlottesville Albemarle (CHO) in Virginia, and on May 17 it will start a 2X-weekly service to Brownsville.
Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) is increasing service to Honolulu (HNL) in response to rising demand. The airline currently serves HNL daily from Tokyo Haneda (HND) using Boeing 787-9s and 5X-weekly from Tokyo Narita (NRT) using Airbus A380s. From April 20, the carrier intends to offer 10X-weekly A380 flights and 4X-weekly 787-9 flights from NRT. Frequencies from Haneda will remain unchanged. In addition, service from Haneda to New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) will rise from 7X-weekly to 10X-weekly at the end of March, while Haneda-Seoul Gimpo (GMP) will increase from 2X-daily to 3X-daily.
US ULCC Frontier Airlines will open service from five US cities to Puerto Rico's San Juan (SJU) in early May. The Denver-based airline will also commence a new route between Cancun (CUN) in Mexico and SJU, and begin service to Ponce (PSE) in Puerto Rico for the first time. From May 4, Frontier will launch service from four US cities to San Juan: Baltimore/Washington (BWI) (daily frequencies); Chicago Midway (MDW) (6X-weekly); Cleveland (CLE) (4X-weekly); and Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) (daily). Also from May 4, the carrier will start service between Orlando (MCO) and PSE, when Ponce joins its network, and between Tampa and Aguadilla (BQN) in Puerto Rico. Both routes will be operated 3X-weekly. From May 5, Frontier will open 4X-weekly flights between SJU and Detroit (DTW). From May 25, the airline will start 3X-weekly service on the CUN-SJU route.
Spain’s Level plans to increase weekly capacity by 20% on routes to North America during the summer 2023 season, compared with summer 2022 levels. From Barcelona (BCN) service to New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) will be daily, while Boston (BOS) increases from 3X to 4X-weekly. In addition, Barcelona-Santiago de Chile (SCL) will be 3X-weekly from June and operate year-round, while flights to Buenos Aries (EZE) will be 5X-weekly from May to August, and 6X-weekly during March, April and September.
American Airlines will launch new nonstop service between Baton Rouge Metro (BTR) and Washington National (DCA) later this year—a route described as a “monumental” for the Louisiana city. The airline will begin service on June 1, operating daily using a 76-seat Embraer 175 jet. The route was secured with the help of a $2 million incentive package, half of which was allocated through the US Transportation Department’s Small Community Air Service Development Program. Baton Rouge was one of 25 applicants selected for funding in 2022 through the federal grant scheme.
Hawaiian Airlines will resume flights to Fukuoka (FUK), nearly returning to its pre-pandemic roster of Japanese airports served. From April 28, the carrier will operate 3X-weekly Airbus A330 service between Honolulu (HNL) and FUK. That will leave Sapporo (CTS) as the one pre-pandemic Japanese market still unserved by Hawaiian.
