dailynewsnblog
Welcome to my 204th weekly routes article! As always, the purpose of this article is to discuss a small selection of subjectively exciting services. Five mini-stories were chosen this week; all the routes launched or restarted between April 7 and 14.
Aer Lingus Begins Flights To North Carolina
History was made on April 13, when 
Aer Lingus commenced flying between Dublin and Raleigh/Durham. It is the first time the route, which covers 3,129 nautical miles (5,795 km) each way, has been served.
Aer Lingus runs on a year-round basis. There is currently no indication that flights will be suspended in January/February, although this may change. Some of its US routes are paused then, which reflects the lower demand and fares.
It has five weekly departures during the summer, reduced to four flights a week during the winter. In all cases, the 184-seat A321XLR is deployed. OAG data shows that it is the carrier’s fourth-longest XLR-operated route, after Dublin to Nashville, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis.
Ireland’s flag carrier has US routes from Dublin and Shannon (and, until last month, from Manchester). The latest launch, along with the start of flights to Pittsburgh in May, means that it has a record 20 US routes from Dublin this year. The Irish capital will have 153 weekly departures in July, exceeding that peak month’s prior record by a fifth.
Final Countdown: RDU Welcomes Record 5th New Long-Haul Airline Next Week
Irish carrier Aer Lingus set to become the fifth international long-haul carrier to serve Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
American, Alaska & United Start These Six Routes
On April 7, 
American took off from Los Angeles to Cleveland (daily 737-800/737 MAX 8) and Washington Dulles (daily 737-800/737 MAX 8). While the Ohio link is new to American’s network and is the carrier’s longest route to Cleveland, Dulles was last served in 2020.
On the same day, Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, joined United’s network for the first time. Twice daily flights, using SkyWest’s CRJ200s, operate from Houston Intercontinental. Its arrival means that all three of the US Big Three operators now serve Montgomery.
On April 8, Arcata–Eureka rejoined Alaska Airlines’ map, having last been served 15 years ago. Flights previously operated to Los Angeles, via Redding. Now, a daily SkyWest E175 service exists to Seattle.
Seattle was Arcata-Eureka’s third-largest unserved market last year, although with only six passengers daily each way. It’ll be heavily reliant on connections. The oneworld member serves 18 airports in California this year.
Then there’s United—or, specifically, United Express—again. On April 14, Clarksburg, West Virginia, rejoined its map, having last been served four years ago. Flights operate from Chicago O’Hare (daily SkyWest CRJ200) and Washington Dulles (daily SkyWest CRJ200), just as they did before. O’Hare is the US’s (and the world’s) top RJ airport.
15 New Routes In 7 Days: See Where Southwest, United & Breeze Fly Now
From small, rural airports to popular tourist destinations, these 15 new routes span the country.
Aeromexico Commences A Brand-New Route To Europe
The Mexican city of Monterrey has been doing well with routes to Europe. This is why 256,000 two-way seats are available this year, which has exceeded the prior record, which was held in 2024, by a substantial 70%. The World Cup helps.
The latest route is Monterrey to Paris CDG, which Aeromexico commenced on April 13. It seems to be the first time that France has had passenger flights to/from Monterrey.
Based on local traffic from 2025, Paris was the Mexican city’s largest unserved European market, although London was close behind. Aeromexico runs three times a week on a summer-only basis, nearly always on the 787-9.
|
Days |
Monterrey-Paris CDG; Local Times* |
Days |
Paris CDG-Monterrey; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday, Thursday, Saturday |
3:10 pm-9:40 am+1 |
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday |
11:55 am-3:20 pm |
|
* Current week |
** Current week |
Southwest & Breeze Begin 9 Routes
St. Maarten and Santa Rosa have joined Southwest’s map for the first time. The carrier, which is increasingly evolving, serves Santa Rosa from Burbank (up to daily 737-700), Denver (up to five weekly 737-700), Las Vegas (daily 737-700), and San Diego (11 weekly 737-700).
Flights to St. Maarten operate from Baltimore (twice-weekly 737-700/737 MAX 8) and Orlando (daily 737-700/737 MAX 8). The former is a brand-new market; no carrier has ever served it.
Elsewhere, the airline now serves Denver-Knoxville (up to daily 737-700/737 MAX 8) and Chicago O’Hare-Panama City (Florida; weekly 737-700). The latter is despite Southwest pulling out of O’Hare in June.
Then there’s Breeze, which has inaugurated service between Las Vegas and Lincoln (twice-weekly A220-300). This city pair last had nonstop flights 17 years ago, when Allegiant operated. Lincoln has been part of Breeze’s network since December 2025, when flights from Orlando began.
15 New Routes In 7 Days: See Where Southwest, United & Breeze Fly Now
From small, rural airports to popular tourist destinations, these 15 new routes span the country.
Bulgaria Air Jets Off To…
Bulgaria’s small flag carrier, Bulgaria Air, gets relatively little attention internationally. On April 9, it took off from Sofia, the country’s capital, to Porto, Portugal’s second most populous city.
It is a brand-new airport pair. Flights have not existed before. According to booking data, Porto was Sofia’s fifth-largest unserved European market. Funnily enough, Sofia was Porto’s fifth-largest unserved European city too.
Flights run twice-weekly during the summer only, with the A220-300 scheduled on nearly every flight. In keeping with Bulgaria Air’s Lisbon service, Porto flights operate overnight back to Sofia—usually landing at the ungodly time of 3:10 am/3:15 am.
Fun fact number one. At 1,430 nautical miles (2,648 km) each way, this route is Sofia’s new second-longest European link, after Lisbon. Fun fact two. It is Bulgaria Air’s new second-longest scheduled service.
