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What’s the most exciting new airline route of the year?
Ask 10 different travelers and you might get 10 different opinions. The question doesn’t come with an easy answer, but — as you might expect from TPG — we’re happy to share our thoughts on it.
Our aviation team looked at all of the new routes launched in the first half of 2025, and we came up with this top 15 list. (Hint: They largely mirror what we predicted at the end of last year.)
The more you know: The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
We stopped short of naming a winner — check back for that at the end of the year — but these were the new routes that intrigued us.
Listed in alphabetical order by airline, here are top 15 for the first half of 2025, along with why they were 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 may not normally stand out as candidates for a “most exciting list.” But the Irish carrier’s new 2025 routes are noteworthy since they’re being operated with its new Airbus A321XLR, a narrow-body jet with particularly long-range. Look for more “long, thin” routes to be added in the years ahead as more carriers become operators of the A321XLR.
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Allegiant
Belleville, Illinois to Gulf Shores, Alabama
If you’re a fan of unusual airline routes, this new flight from Allegiant Air 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. And, spoiler alert: More are coming.
Alaska Airlines (and Hawaiian Airlines)
Seattle to Tokyo
Seattle to Tokyo is not normally a ground-breaking route. But, when it’s your airline’s first-ever long-haul overseas route — as it was for Alaska Airlines — it garners extra attention. Alaska first operated this flight with merger partner Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus A330s, but this will eventually fly on state-of-the art Boeing 787 Dreamliners – first with Hawaiian’s livery, but eventually with Alaska’s.
And, stay tuned. The carrier is getting set to soon unveil an all-new flagship international experience as it plans a dozen long-haul routes out of Seattle in the coming years.
American Airlines
Carlsbad, California, to Phoenix
Earlier this year, American became the only major airline brand operating from California’s McClellan–Palomar Airport (CLD), located about 35 miles north of San Diego. While Carlsbad may not be the most “exciting” new destination for an airline, it underscores American’s strategy of carving out niche markets without direct competition from its primary rivals. Other recent similar additions include Utah’s Provo Municipal Airport (PVU) and Cape Cod Gateway Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Miami to South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos
When it launched this route earlier this year, American became the only major airline at the airport, which otherwise has only small regional operators flying within the Turks and Caicos. Historically, U.S. travelers flying to Turks and Caicos have had to fly to the larger Providenciales International Airport (PLS). Not coincidentally, American’s unique new island service will connect travelers to a brand-new Marriott Bonvoy resort that made our list of most exciting hotel openings in 2025.
Philadelphia to Edinburgh, Scotland
It wasn’t that long ago that some industry observers wondered if Philadelphia’s days were numbered as a major international hub for American. Put those doubts aside. American has returned its transatlantic focus from New York back to Philadelphia, which can count this route to Scotland as well as service to Milan as proof.
We should note: Philly will also gain international service, next month, featuring 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 list, Cape Air takes this spot more for “palace intrigue” than anything else. When JetBlue abruptly ended this route less than two weeks after starting it, Long Island’s connection to Boston seemed lost. Cape Air said not so – announcing its own turbo-prop service on the route to help partially backfill JetBlue’s discontinued link.
Delta Air Lines
New York to Sicily
Sicily has soared in popularity in recent years — thanks in no small part to White Lotus — but there hasn’t been a regular nonstop flight from the U.S. to this Italian island. That changed this summer when both Delta and United added service to Sicily. Delta announced its new route first, unveiling service to Sicily’s lesser-served city of Catania.
Neos
New York to Bari, Italy
Those looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination got a boost with this Italian carrier’s new service to Italy’s Puglia region – an area known for its proximity to the Adriatic Sea, delectable food and historic medieval architecture. 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 region.
United Airlines
Newark to Bilbao, Spain
Long touted as one of Europe’s under-the-radar destinations, Bilbao has typically been difficult to reach for U.S. travelers. That changed this summer when United launched seasonal Boeing 757 nonstops from Newark.
Newark to Madeira, Portugal
Long-popular with European vacationers, this island off the coast of the northwest coast of Africa is known for wine, rugged volcanic scenery and and a bewildering set of climates. It had been difficult for most Americans to get to — until United began nonstop flights from Newark.
Newark to Nuuk, Greenland
A top candidate for “route of the year,” United’s new service to Nuuk, Greenland, dominated aviation headlines earlier in June. As you might expect, TPG was onboard the historic inaugural flight – the first-ever regular service by a U.S. carrier to Greenland.
Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Another top candidate for “route of the year,” you could almost cut and paste the above text for Greenland for United’s new service to Mongolia. However, unlike United’s Greenland service, this new service comes not from the U.S., but from United’s hub at Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). One-stop service is available from several U.S. cities. And, yes, TPG was onboard this inaugural flight too.
Washington to Dakar, Senegal
United chose to bolster its Washington hub at Dulles International Airport (IAD) with new service to Senegal. While new routes to South Africa and Morocco have generated the most buzz in recent years, this new West Africa service from United stands out among 2025’s new routes so far.
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