Exciting new airline routes from May 2024 and beyond

01.06.2024 - 22:27 / thepointsguy.com

The official start of summer is still a few weeks away, and the airline network planners haven't been taking any vacations just yet.

This month, major U.S. airlines continued to file new routes and make stealth cuts to their schedules, many of which were first seen in Cirium Diio timetables.

One of the most notable stories was about how the biggest carriers have been jockeying for newly issued slots, or takeoff and landing permissions, for long-distance flights at the convenient Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) just outside Washington, D.C.

Airlines have just submitted their first pitches for these flights; we'll hear more about the outcome in the coming weeks and months.

In addition to the frenzy at DCA, many other airports received new routes this month — you'll catch all the details in our comprehensive monthly roundup below.

Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...

American Airlines entered May as the largest U.S. airline in the Caribbean and Latin America. It extended its stronghold in this region by adding eight new winter routes, most from either New York or Philadelphia.

Highlights of this expansion include new service to La Romana in the Dominican Republic. This outstation hasn't seen American service since 2017.

Separately, American is boosting its Landline bus partnership by adding two new connections to its Philadelphia hub. These new bus routes from Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) in Pennsylvania and Wilmington Airport (ILG) in Delaware will give flyers more one-stop itinerary options — even if one leg of the journey is operated by a bus service.

Avelo didn't make too many splashy announcements this month, but it did add service from its New Haven, Connecticut, base to Dulles International Airport (IAD) near D.C. This short regional flight should give travelers a new, faster way to get from New Haven to the nation's capital.

Meanwhile, the airline scrapped one route — Santa Rosa, California, to Pasco, Washington — just two weeks after it started. Avelo blamed the cut on low demand.

This month, Delta Air Lines made some big changes to routes operated by its smallest and largest planes.

In terms of smallest planes, Delta debuted the first routes for its spacious CRJ-550 regional jet, which will feature a walk-up onboard bar in first class and baggage storage closets for all passengers. United Airlines was the first carrier to debut this unique configuration, and starting in July, Delta will do the same from its Salt Lake City hub to Butte, Montana; Cedar City, Utah; Elko, Nevada; and West Yellowstone, Montana.

Elsewhere, Delta added its 10th route to Amsterdam — this one is from Tampa. The airline also unveiled 50 new nonstop