New Long-Haul Routes Testing How Far Demand Stretches
Several airlines are launching new long-haul routes, including United and Air Canada adding seasonal flights to Sapporo, Japan; British Airways and Finnair launching one-stop services to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok; and Delta opening the first U.S. nonstop from Atlanta to Riyadh. These routes reflect airlines' bets on leisure and emerging market demand, with some travelers routing around Gulf hubs due to Middle East conflict.
Impact and considerations
New routes offer business travelers more direct and one-stop options, potentially affecting travel routing and costs, especially the trend of avoiding Gulf hubs amid Middle East conflict.
Key points
- United and Air Canada launch seasonal flights to Sapporo.
- British Airways and Finnair launch one-stop services to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
- Delta opens Atlanta-Riyadh nonstop.
- Virgin Atlantic exits London-Riyadh route.
- Middle East conflict influences routing decisions.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Skift
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 22 Aug 2026, 00:48
- Page published
- 22 Aug 2026, 00:54
- Last updated
- 22 Aug 2026, 00:48
- Original links
- Skift Feed：The New Long-Haul Routes Testing How Far Demand Stretches (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 22 Aug 2026, 00:48