Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships
Etihad now flies to Medan, Indonesia
Etihad Airways will begin flights to Medan, the gateway to Northern Sumatra, starting October 2 this year.
The airline will operate flights between Kualanamu International Airport in Medan and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi three times a week, using one of its new A321LR aircraft.
Korean Air to upgrade airport lounges, introduces premium economy
Korean Air is upgrading its airport lounges and introducing Premium Economy cabins as part of its service enhancements. The airline will expand and renovate its lounges at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 to accommodate increased passenger traffic following the airport’s Phase 4 expansion and the relocation of Asiana Airlines.
Four lounges will open in phases from August 2025, including an expanded Prestige Class Lounge in the east wing and Miler Club Lounge. Renovations to the First Class and Prestige Class Lounges in the west wing will be completed by April 2026.
Once all upgrades are finished, Korean Air will operate six lounges, increasing space and seating capacity. The First Class Lounge will be redesigned with features inspired by luxury hotel lounges.
Food and beverage services will include live kitchens, on-site bartenders and baristas, dedicated bakeries, and a signature noodle bar offering freshly prepared dishes.
Korean Air will also renovate its lounges at Los Angeles and New York JFK airports and update its mobile app to provide real-time information on lounge details.
Additionally, 11 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will be retrofitted to include Premium Economy seating, replacing First Class cabins. The first retrofitted aircraft will enter service in late 2025, with further upgrades continuing through 2026.
Vietjet strengthens global reach from Ho Chi Minh City hub
Vietjet has launched four new international routes – two connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hyderabad and Bengaluru in India, and two linking Ho Chi Minh City to Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan.
The Hyderabad and Bengaluru services are already in operation, while the Nagoya and Fukuoka routes will start on April 24 and April 25, respectively.
These additions expand Vietjet’s international network to 10 new services in two months, strengthening ties between Vietnam, India, and Japan.
Emirates adds seven more destinations to A350 route network
Emirates has unveiled seven new cities to be added to its A350 network, as the airline’s latest aircraft begin scheduled service.
This expansion will extend the A350’s reach to short and medium-haul destinations in the Middle East/GCC and Europe, while also marking the aircraft’s debut in Africa and South-east Asia.
Emirates will operate the A350 to Tunis six times weekly from June 1, Amman daily from June 1, and Istanbul daily from July 1. The A350 will debut in Saudi Arabia on Dammam services from July 1, in South-east Asia to Ho Chi Minh City from August 1, and to Baghdad three times weekly from August 3. The A350 will debut in Oslo from September 1, with more A350 destinations, including longhaul routes, to be announced in the coming months as new aircraft join Emirates’ fleet.
Emirates will expand A350 services to Bahrain and Kuwait, with Bahrain receiving a third daily A350 flight from June 1 and Kuwait adding a second A350 flight from October 1. Bologna will also get its first A350 on June 1, ahead of schedule.
The A350 offers three cabin classes: 32 Business Class lie-flat seats, 21 Premium Economy seats, and 259 Economy Class seats.
