Air Travel: New Paths Unveiled : New Routes, New Adventures, and Plenty of Legroom (Well, Maybe)

As global air travel continues to recover in 2024, airlines around the world are pulling out all the stops, launching new routes to connect us to far-flung corners of the globe. Whether you’re itching for a quick getaway to a tropical paradise or plotting a sneaky business trip somewhere exotic (we see you!), these airlines have got you covered. Let’s dive into the latest flight paths that’ll get you soaring—literally—from Jetstar’s Perth to Bangkok to Airlink’s brand-new Cape Town to Gaborone service.

Jetstar’s New Perth to Bangkok Route: Bringing Pad Thai Closer

It’s been love-hate relationship with  Jetstar, a budget carrier famous for taking you from point A to point B with a toll that is not exorbitant, because in the year 2024, things are changing. On September 6, the Australian carrier will start operations between Perth and Bangkok, offering up to four flights per week. That means, you might be chomping on some street food in the meandering lanes of Bangkok, yet retaining the “breakfast toastie” from the airline inside you. There is room for adventure!

Why Perth to Bangkok, You Ask?

After family trips to Sydney and Perth, Bangkok is the it destination for anyone who loves crazy streets and markets and fancy temples and has a nightlife that makes your average weekend look like a PTA meeting. Also, with this route being launched, the demand for direct Australia-Southeastern Asia route flights is fulfilled. It is part of a larger scheme to position Perth as a Jetstar operational centre for the Asia Pacific, in addition to their already busy routes of Singapore and Phuket. So if you love low prices on tickets and even more reasons to fly, then Jetstar is the airline for you.

And with a new pilot base covering four Airbus A321LR at Perth Airport, Jetstar is now on a beauty parade with Western Australia. For those who think a tiki souvenir is a bit too much or those who plan a rather spontaneous fly to Bangkok today (or rather relish snacks offered by in-flight managers), would do it now!

Airlink’s Cape Town to Gaborone Route: Diamonds and Table Mountain, Anyone?

Not to be outdone, South Africa’s very own Airlink is giving us something new to look forward to, too. Come 1st April 2025 (and nope not an April fools joke), you will be able to explore direct flight services between Cape Town, South Africa and Gaborone, Botswana, thanks to the South African government and cease-fire. The only thing that gets better than doing away with a layover at an airport? Recognising the fact that the person sitting next to you probably doesn’t even know that either of the two cities on the layover is on the map—bragging rights galore!

Why Fly Cape Town to Gaborone?

If you have ever wanted to shift your base from a wine growing region to one housing diamond mines gradually then this is the time for you. Gaborone is the political center of Botswana and is known to attract lots of business tycoons particularly in the mineral and financial sectors. As for Cape Town, famous for the Table Mountain, more than just beaches and art galleries to safaris, introduction is superfluous. This route works well for both body in suits and ones in pursuit of unhindered sunsets for camera clicks.

Airlink’s Rodger Foster summed it up best: “Cape Town and Gaborone? Dream team.” (Okay, we may have paraphrased a bit there). Expect the airline’s comfy Embraer E140 to zip you across southern Africa with ease—44 seats, no turbulence (we hope), and zero layover drama.

Air Arabia Connects Sharjah to Warsaw: The UAE Meets Pierogi

Even Air Arabia is in a hurry and announces a new service connecting the two cities – Sharjah and Warsaw beginning December 2024. So for those who want dunes and the capital of Poland it’s a Win Win. Operating 5 flights a week means that you could be relaxing in a cafe in Warsaw one day and the next day be immersing yourself in the culture of Sharjah.

This is Air Arabia’s second entry into the Polish market after Krakow. So take your handbag with you as well as the one for the pierogi and extend your gratitude towards Air Arabia for making the East and the West not very far from one another. “Two cities known for their rich history and culture are going to be connected now,” so came the Group CEO of the company, Adel Al Ali, who is pretty stoked about the new route. This translates into: This flight is a must!

Not Every Flight Soars: Transavia France Pulls the Plug on Paris Orly to Pau

Within the ongoing expansion of network after network, however, not all off routes proved useful. Transavia France has chosen to withdraw its service Paris Orly to Pau – for winter 2024, they will take a short break. Let’s be frank, it’s hard to lose some flights, some of them will have to sink and at times, people are just not interested no matter how any endeavors are made.

Ready for Liftoff? Here’s the September 2024 Lineup

If all this travel talk has you itching to book a flight, check out Air Travel: New Paths Unveiled and some of the newest routes for 2024: