The New International Flight Routes We’re Excited About This Year

International travel is making a strong comeback. In response to the rising demand, airlines are rapidly working to restore their pandemic-affected global flight networks. This has led to the introduction of new routes just in time for the spring, summer, and fall travel seasons. What’s particularly exciting about these new flights is the blend of major carriers servicing both well-known hubs and hidden gems like Málaga, Spain, and Aalborg, Denmark, which are now accessible with nonstop flights from the U.S.

However, the increased interest in international travel has also resulted in rising ticket prices. The reality of high fares during peak travel seasons can be quite shocking. Fortunately, several low-cost airlines, including JetBlue and Norse Atlantic (a revival of Norwegian Air), are stepping in to provide more budget-friendly options.

Here are the new routes that have us dreaming and planning our next adventures.

British Airways: Cincinnati to London

Beginning June 5, British Airways will introduce nonstop flights from its London Heathrow hub to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (located in Hebron, Kentucky, serving the Cincinnati region), marking the airline's 27th U.S. destination. This new service will operate five times a week during the summer and reduce to four times weekly in the winter. Flights will be conducted on 214-seat Boeing 787 Dreamliners, featuring 35 lie-flat seats in business class and 25 in premium economy.

Aer Lingus: Cleveland to Dublin

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport will gain its first nonstop route to Europe in nearly five years on May 19, when Aer Lingus launches service to Dublin four times a week. This new route will use Airbus A321 LR aircraft with 184 seats, including 16 in business class. Local officials attracted the Irish airline with a subsidy package, revitalizing the airport after the last transatlantic service ended in 2018 when Icelandair and the now-defunct Wow Air withdrew.

Delta: Los Angeles to Auckland

Options for traveling to New Zealand are increasing following the country’s reopening last year after strict pandemic-related border closures. Starting October 28, Delta Air Lines will launch daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Auckland, making it the only U.S. carrier to offer this long-haul route, which takes about 13 to 14 hours. Service will be operated using Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Starlux: Los Angeles to Taipei

Emerging as a new player in the Pacific market, Taiwanese airline Starlux will debut in the U.S. on April 26, offering nonstop flights from Taipei to Los Angeles. The flights will be operated on Airbus A350 aircraft, featuring a four-class configuration: 4 first-class seats, 26 in business class, 36 in premium economy, and 240 in economy. Initially, flights will run five times a week, ramping up to daily service in June.

United: Newark to Málaga, Spain

Great news for those dreaming of visiting southern Spain: Starting May 31, you can fly directly from the New York area to Málaga on the Costa del Sol, a gateway to the Andalusia region. United Airlines will offer new seasonal service three times a week through September using narrow-body Boeing 757 aircraft, accommodating 169 passengers, including 16 in United’s Polaris business class.

Qantas: New York to Auckland

Los Angeles isn’t the only major U.S. city gaining access to New Zealand. On June 14, Australian airline Qantas will start three weekly flights from New York’s JFK to Auckland aboard a Boeing 787-9, featuring 236 seats, including 42 in business class and 28 in premium economy. This puts Qantas in direct competition with Air New Zealand, which already operates nonstop flights on the route. Unlike its Kiwi competitor, Qantas will use Auckland as a refueling stop before proceeding to its final destination, Sydney. Nonstop flights from New York to Australia are expected to begin in 2025, once Qantas receives aircraft capable of handling the 10,000-mile route nonstop.

Delta: New York to Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro

As summer winds down in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s just beginning in the Southern Hemisphere, making fall and winter an ideal time to take advantage of Delta’s new seasonal service from JFK to both Argentina and Brazil (the airline already operates flights to these countries from Atlanta). Daily service to Buenos Aires will commence on October 28, using a Boeing 767-400 with four classes of service, including Delta One first class. Flights to Rio de Janeiro will begin on December 16, utilizing a 767-300, also with a four-class configuration.

SAS: New York to Copenhagen and Newark to Aalborg

This season, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, is reinstating its New York–Copenhagen service with daily flights from JFK after a 30-year break. Additionally, it is launching a new—and notably unique—route from Newark to Aalborg, the largest city in Denmark’s beautiful Northern Jutland. This thrice-weekly service will commence on April 27, utilizing an Airbus A321 LR with 157 seats, which includes 22 fully-flat business-class beds, 12 in a two-by-two premium economy setup, and 135 in economy class.

JetBlue: New York to Paris

After a successful launch in London, JetBlue is introducing its first nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to France, with daily service to Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport starting June 29. These transatlantic flights will be operated using narrow-body Airbus A321 LR (long-range) aircraft, offering 114 economy seats and an upgraded 24-seat Mint premium class (JetBlue’s version of business class) with lie-flat seating. This self-proclaimed air travel disruptor, eyeing expansions to other European capitals, kicks off its France routes with introductory fares beginning at $479 round trip.

Norse Atlantic: New York to Rome

Budget airline Norse Atlantic Airways, reviving the long-haul network previously offered by Norwegian Air, is set to begin seasonal flights between JFK and Rome Fiumicino on June 20. The airline will provide daily services utilizing a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring both premium economy and economy seating options, running through September.