Essentially the most-exciting new airline routes for 2025: TPG’s picks

New year, new routes.

While most people are thinking about their New Year’s resolutions, AvGeeks and airline industry enthusiasts have a list of their own to look forward to as the calendar flips from December to January.

That would be the bevy of new airline routes announced last year, many of which launch in 2025. In the U.S. alone, hundreds of new routes were announced in 2024 to varying degrees of fanfare. They included everything from ho-hum expansions — think new flights from a hub to a small city or seasonal routes to vacation hotspots — to outright blockbusters.

TPG’s Aviation team looked back at those to see which ones we were most excited about in the year ahead.

Our picks include some of those blockbusters, but also some that say as much about an evolving airline strategy as the new route itself.

United Airlines was a popular pick from everyone on staff, and how could it not be. The Chicago-based carrier’s network planning team has been aggresive the past few years with a bold international expansion featuring splashy, exotic additions. And 2024 was no exception, where Greenland, Mongolia and Morocco were only some of the highlights.

Still, plenty of other new additions had us talking. Our picks included a bit of everything from new service to big markets (Tokyo) and small (Belleville, Illinois). It’s a likely bet you’ll see some of them nominated for the “sexiest new routes of the year” — yes, that’s a thing.

As for our list, the only criteria were new routes announced in 2024 (regardless of launch date) for flights within or from the U.S. or on a U.S. airline. Read on to see what we picked.

United Airlines: Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

You’ll see this route more than once on this list, and for good reason: Mongolia is about as far-flung and exotic a destination as you’ll find for a U.S. airline. United won’t be flying it nonstop from the U.S. but rather from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), where it’s one of two American carriers with rights to fly to other destinations in the region. Regardless, seeing United Boeing 737s flying into the Mongolian capital is easily one of the most interesting additions for a U.S. airline.

American Airlines: Carlsbad, California, to Phoenix

When American’s American Eagle regional affiliates begin flying from Carlsbad next month, it’ll be the only major airline brand operating from McClellan–Palomar Airport (CLD) about 35 miles north of San Diego. This route drew my attention not so much for this particular city pair, but rather for what’s been one of American’s more interesting network strategies of late. It’s increasingly added smaller airports with little or no major airline service, allowing it to carve out niche markets without direct competition from its primary rivals. Other recent similar additions include Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport (PVU), Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, Massachusetts, Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, and — beginning next month — the little-used South Caicos Airport (XSC) in the Turks and Caicos. (More on that below.)

Allegiant: Gulf Shores, Alabama, to Belleville, Illinois

Unusual airline routes have interested me ever since I was a kid, and — on the surface — this one is as obscure as they come. But it highlights the type of niche market that Allegiant has cultivated this century: expanding to small airports with little or no commercial airline service just outside larger metros. Two of those once-sleepy airports — Punta Gorda Airport (PGD) near Fort Myers, Florida, and the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) near Phoenix — are now among the busiest in Allegiant’s network. For the Gulf Shores-Belleville route, which begins May 23, Allegiant will be the only carrier flying from either airport. The leisure carrier has long-served Belleville, where the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport (BLV) sits about 30 miles from downtown St. Louis. Gulf Shores is a new airport for Allegiant — or any airline, for that matter — and lies about15 miles from the Florida border along the increasingly popular Gulf Coast shoreline.

United Airlines: Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

United’s network team doesn’t shy away from experimenting with new routes, but this one might just be the carrier’s wildest one yet. I, for one, certainly didn’t have United announcing service to Mongolia on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. The airline is taking advantage of its historical fifth-freedom rights to operate this service that operates as part of continuing service between Tokyo and Guam. Travelers will be able to connect with just one stop from the U.S. to Mongolia, all aboard United metal. — Zach Griff, TPG

Hawaiian Airline Seattle to Anchorage, Alaska

I also wouldn’t have thought Pualani — the character on the tail of Hawaiian Airlines aircraft — would be found on a route from Seattle to Anchorage, no less on a wide-body Airbus A330. But Alaska Airlines announced just a few weeks ago that it’ll deploy a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 on this route next summer during the peak travel window. The move comes as the two carriers begin their network integration following the merger of Alaska and Hawaiian getting approved. — Zach Griff, TPG

Delta Air Lines: New York to Sicily

While Sicily has soared in popularity in recent years (thanks, in part, to White Lotus), historically there hasn’t been a nonstop flight from the U.S. to this Italian island. That’ll change next summer when both Delta and United add service to Sicily. Delta announced its new route first; it’ll fly to Catania beginning on May 22. Just a few weeks after Delta’s announcement, United also announced that it’ll start flying from Newark to Palermo (also in Sicily) beginning on May 21. — Zach Griff, TPG

Emirates: Miami to Bogota, Colombia

Flying in one of Emirates’ ultra-swanky first-class seats to Dubai can cost thousands of dollars cash, or significantly cut into your stash of points. However, a new, more affordable way to experience the Middle Eastern carrier’s renowned service that was announced (and launched) in 2024. Known in the industry as a “fifth freedom” route, Emirates’ service from Bogota to Miami is one that operates between two destinations that don’t touch an airline’s home country. Though the flight is technically a continuation of Emirates’ service between Dubai and Miami, Emirates is able to sell tickets just on the Miami-Bogota leg. Thanks to this route, TPG’s Eric Rosen was able to redeem 60,000 Emirates Skywards miles for a first-class seat on one of its Boeing 777-300ER jets — not cheap, by any measure, but far less than you’d pay (especially factoring in taxes and fees) for a much longer flight to Dubai. — Sean Cudahy, TPG

United Airlines: Newark to Marrakech, Morocco

In October, I tagged along as United Airlines launched nonstop winter seasonal service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Marrakech, Morocco — in the process becoming the only U.S. airline directly serving the country. In many ways, this route — also announced and launched in 2024 — served as a launching pad for a series of borderline-obscure new routes United is planning in the months to come, from Senegal to Sicily and nonstop service to Greenland the carrier plans to debut in 2025. In the case of United’s Marrakech service, it’s operated with United’s so-called “high-J” Boeing 767, featuring a whopping 46 lie-flat Polaris seats, and unlocks a destination rated among TPG’s 29 best places to travel in 2025. — Sean Cudahy, TPG

American Airlines: Miami to South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos

American didn’t make as big a splash as, say, United, in announcing where it’ll fly in 2025; there’s no sign of Greenland or Mongolia in its plans. But the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier does have some new plans up its sleeves in the new year. For instance, it will become the only U.S. airline to fly nonstop to the island of South Caicos in February. American will be the only major airline at the airport, which otherwise has only small regional operaters flying within the Turks and Caicos. Speaking to TPG in October, American’s chief network planner touted the carrier’s growing route map in the Caribbean and Latin America as a strength, and an intentional strategy. American, for instance, recently launched nonstop service to Ocho Rios, Jamaica (near a popular Sandals resort) and will fly to Carlsbad, California (not far from the Legoland California theme park), come February. “We’ve added a number of new destinations, niche type destinations,” said Brian Znotins, American’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning. “If we can save people time, this way, that’s something I’m in the business of doing.” — Sean Cudahy, TPG

Aer Lingus: Dublin to Nashville and Indianapolis

At first glance, Aer Lingus announcing nonstop service from its Dublin home base to Nashville and Indianapolis wouldn’t come close to qualifying for a list of the most exciting airline routes. But the Irish carrier’s newest U.S. service is notable because of the aircraft flying the two routes — and what it means for air travel in 2025 and beyond. Aer Lingus will fly to Nashville and Indy with its new Airbus A321XLR, a narrow-body jet with particularly long-range. For Aer Lingus and many other airlines, the jet should unlock new types of intercontinental routes, allowing airlines to fly to more “off-the-beaten-path” international destinations … or, in this case, enabling new European routes for smaller U.S. cities. American hopes to do just that with its own XLRs — that is, after it replaces it four-cabin “A321T” with the new aircraft on premium transcontinental routes in 2025. — Sean Cudahy, TPG

JetBlue: Boston to Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh, and Scotland more broadly, is perhaps my favorite place in the world. I lived there for a year for graduate school, and have been back many times to visit friends, explore new places and go back to old favorite sites. Edinburgh may have been slightly off the radar when I first moved there, but that certainly isn’t the case anymore, with the number of international visitors climbing steadily, according to data from the Scottish Tourism Observatory. I’m always thrilled to see it easier to get there from the U.S., and JetBlue’s latest seasonal European flight will be the only one connecting my current hometown to the Scottish capital with nonstop service. I’m looking forward to taking it when it starts next spring and can’t wait for my first visit in a few years! I’m also thrilled to see American begin its first-ever service to the city, launching from its Philadelphia hub around the same time. I’m hoping that one will help expand award availability to Edinburgh, too. — David Slotnick, TPG

United Airlines: Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Honestly, I’m just so curious about this one. It’s an unusual route for the airline, which serves a handful of Asia-Pacific destinations from its Tokyo hub using Boeing 737 narrowbodies that are based in Guam. But Ulaanbaatar is quite an unusual one. United has said that the destination offers a gateway to off-the-grid, beautiful landscapes across the country, and that there’s an opportunity to win over passengers who previously connected to Ulaanbaatar through Beijing. It’s reflective of United’s post-pandemic strategy of expanding service to less-common international destinations, whether that be secondary cities in countries that are already popular, or places that might not have occurred to Americans to visit before. The airline relies on a mix of passengers who are visiting friends and relatives, along with pure leisure customers, many of whom the airline tries to entice by marketing destinations themselves, rather than the flights. That also helps attract potential customers to engage more with the airline, either by joining its frequent flyer program or by signing up for a cobranded credit card. So far the strategy seems to be working well, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out in Ulaanbaatar. — David Slotnick, TPG

Alaska Airlines/Hawaiian Airlines: Seattle to Tokyo

Alaska Airlines announced its first major long-haul flight since its merger with Hawaiian Airlines was approved, giving it new Airbus A330 widebody jets for the first time. The route itself isn’t necessarily that exciting on its own, as there is plenty of service available from the West Coast to Tokyo. Instead, this route — along with Seoul and others to come — signals Alaska’s intent to transform its Seattle hub into a global gateway and compete directly with partner-turned-rival Delta. Demand on the Tokyo route is strong, so it’s a logical one for the combined airlines to add. Plus, it’s interesting (and exciting) to see Alaska make its first big play to plug Hawaiian’s aircraft into its Seattle hub. — David Slotnick, TPG

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