What’s essentially the most thrilling new airline route of the yr?
Ask 10 totally different vacationers and also you would possibly get 10 totally different opinions. The query does not include a straightforward reply, however — as you would possibly anticipate from TPG — we’re glad to share our ideas on it.
Our aviation crew checked out the entire new routes launched within the first half of 2025, and we got here up with this prime 15 listing. (Trace: They largely mirror what we predicted on the finish of final yr.)
The extra : One of the best time to ebook flights for the most affordable airfare
We stopped wanting naming a winner — examine again for that on the finish of the yr — however these have been the brand new routes that intrigued us.
Listed in alphabetical order by airline, listed here are prime 15 for the primary half of 2025, together with why they have been chosen.
Map watching: The award for ‘sexiest new route’ of the 2023 goes to … | And 2024 …
Aer Lingus
Indianapolis and Nashville to Dublin
These routes could not usually stand out as candidates for a “most fun listing.” However the Irish service’s new 2025 routes are noteworthy since they’re being operated with its new Airbus A321XLR, a narrow-body jet with notably long-range. Search for extra “lengthy, skinny” routes to be added within the years forward as extra carriers develop into operators of the A321XLR.
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Allegiant
Belleville, Illinois to Gulf Shores, Alabama
In the event you’re a fan of bizarre airline routes, this new flight from Allegiant Air is as obscure as they arrive. However it highlights the kind of area of interest market that Allegiant has cultivated this century: increasing to small airports with little or no business airline service simply exterior bigger metros. And, spoiler alert: Extra are coming.
Alaska Airways (and Hawaiian Airways)
Seattle to Tokyo
Seattle to Tokyo is just not usually a ground-breaking route. However, when it is your airline’s first-ever long-haul abroad route — because it was for Alaska Airways — it garners additional consideration. Alaska first operated this flight with merger associate Hawaiian Airways’ Airbus A330s, however this can ultimately fly on state-of-the artwork Boeing 787 Dreamliners – first with Hawaiian’s livery, however ultimately with Alaska’s.
And, keep tuned. The service is getting set to quickly unveil an all-new flagship worldwide expertise because it plans a dozen long-haul routes out of Seattle within the coming years.
American Airways
Carlsbad, California, to Phoenix
Earlier this yr, American turned the one main airline model working from California’s McClellan–Palomar Airport (CLD), positioned about 35 miles north of San Diego. Whereas Carlsbad is probably not essentially the most “thrilling” new vacation spot for an airline, it underscores American’s technique of carving out area of interest markets with out direct competitors from its major rivals. Different current related additions embody Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) and Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Miami to South Caicos within the Turks and Caicos
When it launched this route earlier this yr, American turned the one main airline on the airport, which in any other case has solely small regional operators flying throughout the Turks and Caicos. Traditionally, U.S. vacationers flying to Turks and Caicos have needed to fly to the bigger Providenciales Worldwide Airport (PLS). Not coincidentally, American’s distinctive new island service will join vacationers to a brand-new Marriott Bonvoy resort that made our listing of most fun lodge openings in 2025.
Philadelphia to Edinburgh, Scotland
It wasn’t that way back that some business observers questioned if Philadelphia’s days have been numbered as a serious worldwide hub for American. Put these doubts apart. American has returned its transatlantic focus from New York again to Philadelphia, which might rely this path to Scotland in addition to service to Milan as proof.
We should always word: Philly can even acquire worldwide service, subsequent month, that includes the airline’s brand-new Flagship Suites on its Boeing 787-9P Dreamliner
Cape Air
Boston to Islip, New York
An unlikely candidate for our listing, Cape Air takes this spot extra for “palace intrigue” than the rest. When JetBlue abruptly ended this route lower than two weeks after beginning it, Lengthy Island’s connection to Boston appeared misplaced. Cape Air mentioned not so – saying its personal turbo-prop service on the route to assist partially backfill JetBlue’s discontinued hyperlink.
Delta Air Traces
New York to Sicily
Sicily has soared in reputation lately — thanks in no small half to White Lotus — however there hasn’t been a daily nonstop flight from the U.S. to this Italian island. That modified this summer time when each Delta and United added service to Sicily. Delta introduced its new route first, unveiling service to Sicily’s lesser-served metropolis of Catania.
Neos
New York to Bari, Italy
These searching for an off-the-beaten-path vacation spot bought a lift with this Italian service’s new service to Italy’s Puglia area – an space recognized for its proximity to the Adriatic Sea, delectable meals and historic medieval structure. Neos claims the route is the first-ever nonstop service between the U.S. and Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), the capital of Italy’s Puglia area.
United Airways
Newark to Bilbao, Spain
Lengthy touted as considered one of Europe’s under-the-radar locations, Bilbao has sometimes been tough to achieve for U.S. vacationers. That modified this summer time when United launched seasonal Boeing 757 nonstops from Newark.
Newark to Madeira, Portugal
Lengthy-popular with European vacationers, this island off the coast of the northwest coast of Africa is understood for wine, rugged volcanic surroundings and and a bewildering set of climates. It had been tough for many People to get to — till United started nonstop flights from Newark.
Newark to Nuuk, Greenland
A prime candidate for “route of the yr,” United’s new service to Nuuk, Greenland, dominated aviation headlines earlier in June. As you would possibly anticipate, TPG was onboard the historic inaugural flight – the first-ever common service by a U.S. service to Greenland.
Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
One other prime candidate for “route of the yr,” you may virtually minimize and paste the above textual content for Greenland for United’s new service to Mongolia. Nevertheless, in contrast to United’s Greenland service, this new service comes not from the U.S., however from United’s hub at Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). One-stop service is on the market from a number of U.S. cities. And, sure, TPG was onboard this inaugural flight too.
Washington to Dakar, Senegal
United selected to bolster its Washington hub at Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) with new service to Senegal. Whereas new routes to South Africa and Morocco have generated essentially the most buzz lately, this new West Africa service from United stands out amongst 2025’s new routes thus far.
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