dailynewsnblog
Welcome to my 197th weekly routes article! It includes six mini-stories about subjectively exciting services that took off between January 6 and 12. As always, only a selection of additions has been chosen.
Lucky For Some In Saudi Arabia
Qatar Airways has more flights to Saudi Arabia than anywhere else, with an average of 22 departures daily in January. The country accounts for 7% of the oneworld member’s total activity.
The latest Saudi city to join its network is Hail. It is in the northwest of the expansive nation, around 550 nautical miles (1,019 km) from Doha. It is the first time Qatar Airways has flown there. Flights operate three times a week on the A320ceo.
The airline now serves 13 airports in Saudi Arabia: Abha, Al Uia, Dammam, Gissim, Hail, Jeddah, Madinah, Neom Bay, Red Sea Project (!), Riyadh, Tabuk, Taif, and Yanbu. Only one airport has been removed from its network: Hofuf. Flights existed between 2014 and 2017.
Breeze Airways Begins International Flights
The next stage in the life of the fast-growing Breeze has started. It now flies internationally. Its first scheduled non-US service took off on January 10, from Norfolk to Cancun.
Initially served weekly, the route doubles to twice-weekly flights in May. It is Norfolk’s first-ever scheduled service to Latin America, and the airline’s new fifth-longest link from the Virginia airport.
The brand-new market is also significant for another reason. It marked Norfolk’s first international scheduled service in a quarter of a century. This is even more notable because it is only the US’s 50th-busiest airport based on departures. In 2001, Air Canada used the CRJ100 from Toronto, although 9/11, in particular, meant it didn’t last long.
Breeze Airways Launches First International Flights—All 6 Routes Revealed
More than ‘just’ this, the US’s 50th-busiest airport has gained international service for the first time in 25 years.
Aer Lingus Begins New 4th Longest Route
Ireland now has scheduled flights to Mexico. They are courtesy of 
Aer Lingus, which now serves Dublin-Cancun. This addition makes a nice change from the airline’s fully understandable focus on narrowbody-operated routes to the US.
Aer Lingus serves the ever-popular leisure market three times a week through April, primarily on its A330-300s. At 4,072 nautical miles (7,541 km) each way, it is the carrier’s new fourth-longest route. Only Dublin to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas flights cover more distance.
It’s a reasonable-sized local market of about 37,000 round-trip passengers, which is a good foundation to build on. It was Ireland’s second-largest Latin American market after São Paulo (43,000). Of course, passengers will connect to multiple cities in the UK, etc.
As you’d expect, Dublin-Cancun is a relatively low-yielding destination. The average fare per nautical mile is just $0.14, meaning it is marginally lower than for Las Vegas. But it’s probably a good use of aircraft during the quieter winter.
Alaska Airlines Begins These 2 Routes
Alaska Airlines now serves Spokane-Orange County (daily) and Boise-Ontario (daily), both of which use Horizon E175s. Boise-Ontario was last served 18 years ago by ExpressJet. Alaska will compete head-to-head with Allegiant on Spokane-Orange County, albeit only in the summer. Southwest briefly served that market in 2021.
In the 12 months to June 2025, the US DOT shows that 44,900 round-trip passengers flew between Boise and Ontario. It was the Idaho city’s third-largest unserved market, and number one within 850 nautical miles (1,574 km). It had 62 passengers daily each way (PDEW).
Copa Now Serves Eight Brazilian Cities
Panama’s flag carrier has resumed flights to the Brazilian city of Salvador. The long route, which covers 2,780 nautical miles (5,149 km) each way, was originally served between 2018 and 2020.
Copa now has four weekly flights from Panama City to the popular and populous northeast Brazilian city, with the 166-seat 737 MAX 8 exclusively scheduled in 2026. It is, of course, timed for connectivity at its so-called ‘Hub of the Americas.’
|
Days |
Panama City-Salvador; Local Times* |
Days |
Salvador-Panama City; Local Times** |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays |
3:58 pm-12:25 am+1 |
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays |
1:25 am-6:40 am |
|
* In mid-January. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
** In mid-January. Shown in Simple Flying’s new time format |
Copa now serves eight Brazilian cities: Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Florianópolis, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and São Paulo. Daily departures vary from 11 to 15 this year. It is the airline’s fifth most-served nation, behind the US, Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Southwest Returns To…
After a six-year absence, the increasingly evolving 
Southwest has resumed flying between Tampa and Los Angeles. Previously, it operated between 2018 and 2020. While currently sub-daily, flights return to a daily frequency in mid-February. From June, it’ll operate overnight to Florida.
In the 12 months to June 2025, the airport pair had 318,000 round-trip passengers (PDEW: 435). It was, of course, a large market. And that’s just to/from LAX. When all LA-area airports are included, traffic rose to 439,000 passengers (PDEW: 601).
With 51% of the 318,000 passengers, Delta was the top carrier, followed by United (25%). That’s unsurprising: they both operated nonstop and continue to do so. American was third (9%), followed by Southwest (7%). That was, of course, based on them having no nonstop services.
Delta, United, and Southwest now run nonstop. The market last had more than two operators in 2024, when American and Alaska Airlines served the market. Given their exit, it’s no wonder Southwest’s interest was piqued.
