New Airline Routes Will Open Great Travel Possibilities in 2020

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your 2020 travels, then look no further. Next year is going to be another exciting one for new flight route launches, and I’ve compiled a list to give you plenty of ideas for where to go in 2020.

The Most Interesting New Domestic Flights

Airlines try dozens if not hundreds of new routes every year within the U.S.—some stick around, and some disappear. So as much as someone in Orange County, California, may get excited about having Frontier flying to Vegas (that started in November), we’re focusing on the routes that will have the most appeal to the widest group of travelers, including Southwest’s first flights from San Diego to Hawaii and a big increase in options for American customers heading to Alaska.

Chicago/O’Hare to Anchorage, on American, May 7 through October 6
Chicago/O’Hare to Fairbanks, on American, May 7 through October 6
Chicago/O’Hare to Santa Barbara, on United, starts June 4

Dallas/Fort Worth to Fairbanks, on American, May 7 through October 6

San Diego to Honolulu, on Southwest, starts April 20
San Diego to Kahului (Maui), on Southwest, starts April 14

Over the Atlantic

Heading east from the U.S., there are a ton of new options coming online this year. Highlights include American’s first flight to Africa (Casablanca), Delta’s return to India (Mumbai), joining United as the only other American carrier there; and the reestablishment of the link between the U.S. and Sicily with United’s new Palermo service, which makes United the only airline to offer this route. There is also a fair bit of growth from low-cost carriers such as Eurowings, LEVEL, and Norwegian, for those on a budget.

Anchorage to Frankfurt, on Eurowings, June 1 through September 28
Austin to Amsterdam, on KLM, starts May 4
Austin to Paris/de Gaulle, on Norwegian, May 6 through October 23

Boston to Ilha do Sal (Cape Verde), on Cabo Verde, starts December 9, 2019
Boston to London/Gatwick, on Delta, starts May 21
Boston to London/Heathrow, on American, starts March 29
Boston to Manchester, on Delta, May 21 through September 8
Boston to Paris/Orly, on LEVEL, starts March 31
Boston to Rome/Fiumicino, on Delta, May 21 through September 8
Boston to Vienna, on Austrian, starts March 29

Chicago/O’Hare to Krakow, on American, May 7 through October 23
Chicago to Paris, on Norwegian, May 1 through Oct 24
Chicago/O’Hare to Prague, on American, May 4 through October 27
Chicago to Rome, on Norwegian, June 2 through Oct 19
Chicago/O’Hare to Tel Aviv, on El Al, starts March 22
Chicago/O’Hare to Zurich, on United, starts March 28

Denver to Rome, on Norwegian, March 31 through Oct 23

Detroit to Munich, on Lufthansa, May 4 through October 24

Houston/Intercontinental to Lomé (Togo), on Ethiopian, starts December 16, 2019

Las Vegas to Munich, on Eurowings, April 6 through October 23

Los Angeles to Copenhagen, on SAS, starts January 13

Newark to Cape Town, United, started Dec 15, 2019
Newark to Nice, on United, May 2 through September 8
Newark to Paris/Orly, on Corsair, starts June 10
Newark to Paris/Orly, on French Bee, starts June 10
Newark to Palermo (Italy), on United, May 20 through September 30

New York/JFK to Kraków, on LOT Polish, May 3 through October 18
New York/JFK to London/Gatwick, on Virgin Atlantic, starts May 21
New York/JFK to Mumbai, on Delta, starts December 22, 2019

Orlando to Munich, on Eurowings, April 7 through October 22

Philadelphia to Budapest, on American, May 4 through October 27
Philadelphia to Casablanca, on American, June 4 through September 8
Philadelphia to Keflavik (Iceland), on American, June 4 through October 31
Philadelphia to Prague, on American, May 4 through October 27

Phoenix to Frankfurt, on Eurowings, April 29 through October 30

San Francisco to Rome/Fiumicino, on Alitalia, July 1 through October 28

Seattle to Munich, on Lufthansa, June 1 through October 23

Washington/Dulles to Ilha do Sal (Cape Verde), on Cabo Verde, starts December 8, 2019
Washington/Dulles to Madrid, on Iberia, starts May 1
Washington/Dulles to Zurich, on SWISS, starts March 29

Around the Americas

This year, there is a fair bit of growth in the Americas. Notably, New York gets a big boost with a slew of new service as American works to find the right mix of flights to operate with its precious limited slots. But American is also growing out of Dallas/Fort Worth, and we can expect to see more in the future.

Dallas/Fort Worth to Acapulco, on American, starts December 21, 2019
Dallas/Fort Worth to Guayaquil (Ecuador), on American, starts December 19, 2019
Dallas/Fort Worth to Quito, on American, starts December 18, 2019

Fort Lauderdale to Belo Horizonte (Brazil), on Azul, starts December 16, 2019

New York/JFK to Bogotá, on Delta, starts December 21, 2019
New York/JFK to Georgetown (Guyana), on American, starts December 18, 2019
New York/JFK to Georgetown (Guyana), on JetBlue, starts April 2
New York/JFK toGuayaquil (Ecuador), on JetBlue, starts December 5
New York/JFK to Liberia (Costa Rica), on American, starts December 21, 2019
New York/JFK to Montego Bay, on American, starts November 21, 2019
New York/JFK to San José (Costa Rica), on American, starts November 21, 2019

San Jose (California) to Puerto Vallarta, on Alaska, starts March 19

The Tokyo Shuffle

Tokyo’s most convenient and desirable airport is Haneda, but it is highly restricted. Starting in March, several new slots open up, and all the airlines that showed an interest have gained additional access. Some of these flights will simply replace options at less-convenient Narita (Delta is leaving Narita entirely ), but others are going to supplement existing service. This airport is closer to central Tokyo—not to mention Yokohama—and it’s easier for access to public transit.

Atlanta to Tokyo/Haneda, on Delta, starts March 28

Chicago/O’Hare to Tokyo/Haneda, on United, starts March 28

Dallas/Fort Worth to Tokyo/Haneda, on American, starts March 29

Detroit to Tokyo/Haneda, on Delta, starts March 28

Honolulu to Tokyo/Haneda, on Delta, starts March 28

Los Angeles to Tokyo/Haneda, on United, starts March 28

Newark to Tokyo/Haneda, on United, starts March 28

Portland (Oregon) to Tokyo/Haneda, on Delta, starts March 28

Seattle to Tokyo/Haneda, on Delta, starts March 28

Washington/Dulles to Tokyo/Haneda, on United, starts March 28

The Rest of the Pacific

It’s not just Tokyo that gets love next year; much of the most interesting growth in the Pacific will be in Oceania. Air New Zealand continues to stretch its legs with nonstops to New York, while American and Qantas ramp up their offerings in celebration of their recently implemented joint venture.

Chicago/O’Hare to Brisbane, on Qantas, starts April 20

Dallas/Fort Worth to Auckland, on American, October 25 through March 27, 2021

Honolulu to Fukuoka, on Hawaiian, starts November 26, 2019

Los Angeles to Christchurch, on American, October 25 through March 26, 2021

Newark to Auckland, on Air New Zealand, starts October 29, 2020

San Francisco to Brisbane, on Qantas, starts February 9

Still haven’t found something that gets you excited? Go back to last year’s list. Most of those summer-only routes are returning, and they’re sticking around for a longer season this year. There’s never been an easier time to explore the world.

Brett Snyder is President at Cranky Concierge, a service that Wendy recommends to WOW List travelers seeking the savviest help with international airline travel. Brett’s service ferrets out the smartest routes and fares, monitors your flights, and provides emergency rerouting assistance if your flight is delayed or cancelled.