Welcome to my 177th weekly routes article! This week, I’m diving into seven captivating new flight services that launched between July 29 and August 4. While many routes were introduced globally during this period, I’ve handpicked a few that stand out for their unique appeal.
**Emirates Expands to Hangzhou, China**
On July 30, Emirates launched passenger flights to Hangzhou, marking its fifth destination in China. The daily service is operated by first-class-equipped Boeing 777-300ERs, directly competing with Air China’s thrice-weekly flights. Hangzhou joins Emirates’ existing Chinese destinations, including Beijing Capital, Guangzhou, Shanghai Pudong, and Shenzhen, which was added earlier in July.
Hangzhou is a bustling city with a population of around 13 million and ranks sixth in China for the number of billionaires. It’s a hub for technology, logistics, and manufacturing, making freight a significant aspect of this route. The 777-300ER’s ample cargo capacity is a perfect fit. Except for the inaugural flight, which had a special schedule for celebratory purposes, EK310 departs Dubai at 09:40, arriving in Hangzhou at 22:00 local time. The return flight, EK311, leaves at 00:10, landing back in Dubai at 04:55. The schedule is optimized for seamless connections through Dubai, a popular transit point for over 700,000 passengers traveling between Hangzhou and Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in 2024. Notably, Dubai itself attracted over 81,000 local passengers.
**Delta and United Launch New Routes in South Dakota**
August 1 marked a significant day for Watertown, South Dakota, as it welcomed new services from Delta Connection and United Express. Delta Connection, operated by SkyWest’s three-class, 50-seat CRJ550s, now offers daily flights from its Minneapolis hub, just 168 nautical miles away. This route was last served a decade ago.
United Express has also made a comeback, offering daily flights on SkyWest’s single-class, 50-seat CRJ200s, under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. This service replaces Denver Air Connection, which ceased operations to Denver and Chicago O’Hare on July 31. Additionally, United Express has reinstated the Denver to Pierre route, another EAS-funded service, with SkyWest CRJ200s operating 12 to 19 times weekly.
**Turkish Airlines Resumes Flights to Aleppo**
After a 13-year hiatus due to Syria’s civil war, Turkish Airlines has resumed flights from Istanbul to Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city. The service, which began on August 1, marks a significant milestone in reconnecting these two historic cities.
These new routes highlight the dynamic nature of the aviation industry, constantly evolving to meet passenger demand and geopolitical changes. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the world of air travel! #AviationNews #NewRoutes #TravelUpdates
Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
