The official start of summer is a few weeks away and airline network planners haven’t taken any vacations yet.
This month, major US airlines continued to roll out new routes and make sneaky cuts to their schedules, many of which were first seen on Cirium’s schedule Diio.
One of the most notable stories is about how the largest carriers are jockeying for gain Newly released slotsor takeoff and landing permits for long-haul flights at the convenient Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) just outside of Washington, DC
Airlines have just sent out their first offers for these flights; We’ll know more about the results in the coming weeks and months.
In addition to the excitement at DCA, many other airports received new routes this month – you’ll find out all the details in our comprehensive monthly roundup below.
View the map: The ‘Most Sexy New Route’ of the year award goes to…
American Airlines
American Airlines entered May as the largest U.S. airline in the Caribbean and Latin America. It has expanded its stronghold in the region by adding eight new winter routes, most from New York or Philadelphia.
Highlights of this expansion include new service to La Romana in the Dominican Republic. This offsite station has not seen US service since 2017.
Additionally, American is strengthening its fixed bus partnerships by adding two new connections to central Philadelphia. These new bus routes from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Pennsylvania and Wilmington Airport (ILG) in Delaware will give passengers more one-stop travel options – even if one stop of the journey is operated by a bus service.
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Avelo Airlines
Avelo didn’t make too many exciting announcements this month, but it did add service from its New Haven, Connecticut base to Dulles International Airport (IAD) near DC. This short regional flight will give travelers a new, faster way to get from New Haven to the nation’s capital.
Meanwhile, the airline canceled one route – Santa Rosa, California, to Pasco, Washington – just two weeks after starting it. Avelo blamed the cuts on low demand.
Delta Airlines
This month, Delta Air Lines made some major changes to routes operated by its smallest and largest aircraft.
In terms of smallest planes, Delta has launched the plane first flight path for the spacious CRJ-550 regional jet, will feature a walk-in bar in first class and luggage lockers for all passengers. United Airlines was the first airline to launch 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 has added a 10th route to Amsterdam – this one from Tampa. The airline also unveiled 50 new nonstop flights for the college football season and added even more routes to its Latin America schedule.
Ultimately, the airline made its Los Angeles to Auckland service seasonal and canceled plans to resume flights from LA to Shanghai.
Border Airlines
Frontier Airlines is once again giving San Jose, California some love.
This airline withdrew from the city in 2019, but five years later, it will return with five new routes. This includes service to Denver, Las Vegas, LA, Phoenix and San Diego.
JetBlue
JetBlue made some big changes in May as it sought to regain profitability. These include cuts to transatlantic service during the winter and reduced flights to New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
It will grow in more lucrative markets, including Boston and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Finally, JetBlue will also launch 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, a luxury premium airline operating 30-foot jets, has announced that new nonstop flights between Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Scottsdale Airport (SCF) in Arizona will begin on May 3. ten.
These new flights will operate on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. This service will be timed to allow passengers to connect from Dallas to Orange County (and vice versa) with convenient one-stop service on the same aircraft via Scottsdale.
Additionally, JSX will restart summer service to Taos, New Mexico on June 28. The airline will operate three weekly flights to Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) — located roughly midway between Boulder, Colorado and Denver — and two weekly flights to DAL. These seasonal flights run until September 29.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines continues to adapt its network with more flights to popular hub cities. The latest expansion this month includes a rare new shuttle route from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
The 224-mile route is already full service, but Spirit likely hopes it will help open up new connecting journeys for its customers.
Finally, the airline is temporarily canceling all international flights from Houston due to weak demand.
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines made a major network change this month. This time, the airline has added seven new routes, three of which are from Las Vegas. Six of the seven new routes are uncompetitive, so Southwest may be taking advantage of a monopoly opportunity by launching these new routes.
It’s not great news, however, as the carrier is phasing out four routes. The two hail from Denver, where competition with United is intensifying.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country is adding two new routes from Milwaukee this winter. These include new ways to get to 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 US airlines.
The airline has added a new cross-country flight from IAD to Palm Springs International Airport (PSP). The airline also launched 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 adjusted its long-haul network by cutting two premium routes: LA to Auckland, New Zealand and LA to Brisbane, Australia.
The airline has also upgraded its Newark-to-Tenerife, Spain flight to year-round service.
All of this news comes as the airline received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to once again add new routes. With this approval, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the carrier make a few more additions to its network in the coming weeks.
Aer Lingus
Ireland’s national airline felt lucky in May when it added a new route connecting Dublin and Las Vegas, which will launch this fall.
The new route will be offered seasonally, 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 is a transfer of service from Orlando Sanford International Airport (SFB) to Orlando International Airport (MCO).
Flair will connect Orlando to Toronto; Saint John, New Brunswick; London, Ontario; and Waterloo, Ontario. Without Flair, SFB would no longer have any international flights.
Porter Airlines
Another Canadian low-cost carrier, Porter Airlines, announced it will launch service from Toronto to Phoenix on October 3.
The airline will operate the flight once per day.
Tui Airways
British airline Tui Airways will begin flying from Dublin to Melbourne, Florida on June 24. The new flight will be operated once a week on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
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