easyJet has announced an extensive expansion of its route network, introducing new services from multiple UK airports and adding further destinations from Newcastle and Berlin as part of its winter schedule.

From London Luton, the airline will launch flights to Kittilä, Finland, on 24 November, operating twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Services to Strasbourg, France, will begin on 29 November with four weekly departures on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

A new connection between London Southend and Edinburgh will commence on 25 October, with flights scheduled twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, improving links between London, Essex and Scotland’s capital.

Birmingham will gain a twice-weekly route to Copenhagen from 16 November, operating on Mondays and Fridays.

In Manchester, easyJet will begin flights to Cairo on 9 November, also twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. The airline said it will be the only carrier offering direct service between Manchester and Sphinx International Airport, the nearest airport for travellers visiting the Pyramids of Giza and western Cairo.

Liverpool will receive new services to Reykjavik and Kittilä. Flights to Iceland’s capital start on 2 November with departures every Monday and Friday, while Kittilä services begin on 25 November and will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The carrier is also expanding rapidly at Newcastle, where five additional destinations will raise its network to 31 routes. Since opening its base there in March 2026, easyJet says it has quadrupled its presence. New flights to Barcelona begin on 25 October, Hurghada on 27 October, Copenhagen on 5 November, Berlin on 20 November and Rovaniemi on 25 November, with frequencies varying between two weekly departures and twice-weekly seasonal services.

Meanwhile, Cornwall Airport Newquay will gain its first international route when flights to Geneva start on 16 January 2027. The seasonal Saturday service will run until 27 February and will be the only direct connection between Newquay and Switzerland.

easyJet holidays will offer package options to all of the new destinations except Kittilä and Rovaniemi. Packages include flights, accommodation and 23kg baggage, with transfers included for Cairo and Hurghada holidays. Customers can book with deposits starting at £60 per person and benefit from flexible booking changes and a Best Price Guarantee.

Source: QCAA

Riyadh Air and Saudia have announced the implementation of the first phase of their Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a major step in strengthening connectivity under Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy.

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed in November 2023 and enables the two airlines to expand travel options for domestic and international passengers.

As part of the first phase, Riyadh Air has established a connection with Saudia’s Passenger Service System (PSS), allowing the carriers to implement their codeshare across their respective technology platforms.

Under the RX-SV codeshare, Riyadh Air will place its “RX” designator on selected Saudia-operated flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport to six domestic destinations: Abha, Al Qassim, Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Tabuk.

The agreement will give Riyadh Air passengers access to additional destinations worldwide through convenient connections in Riyadh. For example, travelers from Dammam can connect via Riyadh to Madrid on a single ticket, while passengers flying from Kuala Lumpur can connect through Riyadh to Medina.

By using Saudia’s frequent services between Riyadh and the six codeshare destinations, Riyadh Air will offer passengers more convenient connections aligned with the arrival and departure schedules of its flights at Riyadh.

Both airlines operate within the King Khalid International Airport Terminal 1-4 complex, enabling passengers to benefit from streamlined connections, single-ticket journeys and through-checked baggage to their final destinations.

The first phase represents a significant step toward deeper cooperation between Saudi Arabia’s two national carriers and supports the Kingdom’s broader ambitions to expand its global aviation network.

Source: aaco.org

SalamAir has announced the establishment of Salalah’s first-ever airline base, marking a major step in the airline’s expansion and strengthening direct international connectivity from Oman’s Dhofar Governorate.

The new Salalah-based operation will initially serve three international destinations: Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Chattogram in Bangladesh and Calicut in India. Bookings opened on August 26, with flights scheduled to begin from the end of October as part of SalamAir’s Winter 2026 schedule.

The base follows SalamAir’s expanded operations during the 2026 Khareef season, when the airline increased capacity on the Muscat-Salalah route to as many as 15 daily flights during peak periods.

The airline also introduced special domestic fares for Omani nationals, with one-way tickets starting from OMR 9.99, supporting affordable travel between Muscat and Salalah.

The new base is expected to extend SalamAir’s role beyond the Khareef season by supporting year-round travel demand among residents and expatriate communities in Dhofar while offering more direct access to key regional and international destinations.

Operations from Salalah will be supported by SalamAir’s Airbus A320neo and A321neo fleet. The airline currently operates 18 aircraft, providing additional flexibility to support growing demand across its network.

During the winter season, SalamAir will also operate charter flights linking Salalah with Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan, supporting inbound tourism from Central Asia.

The Salalah base forms part of SalamAir’s wider strategy to expand its network from key airports across Oman, develop underserved markets and stimulate new travel demand while supporting the growth of the Sultanate’s aviation and tourism sectors.

Source: ZAWYA