A Complete, Updated List of Fifth-Freedom Routes

[AIRwin]

Removed for the season:

Air Canada Removes London – Mumbai Service in NW26 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1730PDT 24APR26 / 0030GMT 25APR26 Air Canada in last week’s schedule update filed service changes to India for Northern winter 2026/27 season, as the carrier cancels planned London Heathrow – Mumbai sector. The Star Alliance member previously scheduled 4 weekly flights with 787-8 ai

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Mattg]

Wow - Almaty to Prague on Vietjet Air?!

VietJet Air Schedules October 2026 Prague Debut — AeroRoutes

Published at 2005PDT 20MAY26 / 0305GMT 21MAY26 VietJet Air from October 2026 plans to launch service to Europe, as the airline filed operational schedule for Hanoi – Almaty – Prague route, on board Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Reservations for this route is available on the airline’s website for tr

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[AIRwin]

Inaugural flight on 4 December:

China Eastern Plans Auckland – Buenos Aires Service From Dec 2025 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0000PDT / 0700GMT 05SEP25 China Eastern from December 2025 plans to launch service to Argentina, previously announced by the airline earlier this year. The Skyteam member intends to launch Shanghai Pu Dong – Auckland – Buenos Aires Ezeiza service on 04DEC25, with 777-300ER

www.aeroroutes.com

Frequency doubling:

China Eastern Doubles Buenos Aires Flights From Dec 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0600PDT / 1300GMT 27MAY26 China Eastern from December 2026 plans to expand service to Argentina, as the carrier’s Shanghai Pu Dong – Auckland – Buenos Aires Ezeiza increases from 2 to 4 weekly, effective 05DEC26. This route is operated by 777-300ER. MU745 PVG0150 – 1730AK

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[AIRwin]

Thai Lion Air between TPE and OKA (but terminating NGO):

Thai Lion Air Plans Taipei – Okinawa Service From August 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1430PDT / 2115GMT 28MAY26 Thai Lion Air today (28MAY26) filed additional service changes to Taiwan and Japan between 01AUG26 and 24OCT26. The airline intends to operate 4 weekly Bangkok Don Mueang – Taipei Taoyuan – Okinawa flights from 16AUG26, reservations expected to open soon.

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[AIRwin]

Post in thread 'Starlux new special liveries'

Jun 3, 2026

Sydney Airport lands STARLUX Airlines

### Tuesday 2 June 2026 Taiwanese carrier STARLUX Airlines has announced the launch of direct flights between Sydney and Taiwan commencing in 2027. Sydney Airport will be the first airport in Australia to welcome STARLUX Airlines, with an onward serv

www.sydneyairport.com.au

SYD airport have officially confirmed Starlux service with onward flights to Auckland. Flight schedules currently being finalised.

• leesionn

• 

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Post in thread 'Starlux new special liveries'

Jun 3, 2026

Sydney Airport lands STARLUX Airlines

### Tuesday 2 June 2026 Taiwanese carrier STARLUX Airlines has announced the launch of direct flights between Sydney and Taiwan commencing in 2027. Sydney Airport will be the first airport in Australia to welcome STARLUX Airlines, with an onward serv

www.sydneyairport.com.au

SYD airport have officially confirmed Starlux service with onward flights to Auckland. Flight schedules currently being finalised.

• leesionn

• 

That may become the nicest way to travel from SYD-AKL

 

[leesionn]

Post in thread 'Starlux new special liveries'

Jun 3, 2026

Sydney Airport lands STARLUX Airlines

### Tuesday 2 June 2026 Taiwanese carrier STARLUX Airlines has announced the launch of direct flights between Sydney and Taiwan commencing in 2027. Sydney Airport will be the first airport in Australia to welcome STARLUX Airlines, with an onward serv

www.sydneyairport.com.au

SYD airport have officially confirmed Starlux service with onward flights to Auckland. Flight schedules currently being finalised.

• leesionn

• 

Hopefully its fifth freedom and not like the TK SYD-KUL-IST flights

 

[AIRwin]

Hopefully its fifth freedom and not like the TK SYD-KUL-IST flights

SYD airport wouldn't have announced "onward service" otherwise?

 

[leesionn]

SYD airport wouldn't have announced "onward service" otherwise?

Good point, hadn’t thought of that

 

[aaa99]

From 4th November

Condor Adds Abu Dhabi – Bangkok Service From Nov 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1500PDT / 2200GMT 11JUN26 Condor from November 2026 plans to launch Abu Dhabi – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi sector, coinciding with Etihad’s planned service adjustment during Northern winter 2026/27 season on this sector. Condor from 04NOV26 will operate this route once a day with Airbus

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Mattg]

From 4th November

Condor Adds Abu Dhabi – Bangkok Service From Nov 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1500PDT / 2200GMT 11JUN26 Condor from November 2026 plans to launch Abu Dhabi – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi sector, coinciding with Etihad’s planned service adjustment during Northern winter 2026/27 season on this sector. Condor from 04NOV26 will operate this route once a day with Airbus

www.aeroroutes.com

Now that's a bit of an odd one! Reminds me of the old airberlin A330 route TXL-AUH-HKT, which it did in partnership with Etihad.

Looks like Condor itself is not selling AUH-BKK as a standalone flight, only if you book as part of a ticket to/from Germany. BUT, Etihad is selling the Condor-operated codeshare EY1044/1045 as a standalone option.

 

[aaa99]

Wonder if it will show up on Alaska Atmos?

 

[AIRwin]

CA between OTP and ZAG:

Air China Resumes Bucharest; Adds Zagreb From Sep 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0000PDT / 0700GMT 02JUL26 Star Alliance member Air China in September 2026 plans to launch 2 new destinations in Europe, as the carrier opened reservations for Beijing Capital – Bucharest – Zagreb route from 04SEP26. This marks the carrier’s return to Bucharest, last served until Ma

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Mwenenzi]

Some QR Qatar changes for AU NZ at year end.

Qatar Airways NW26 Oceania Service Revision – 22JUL26 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1215PDT / 1915GMT 22JUL26 Qatar Airways during Northern winter 2026/27 season plans additional service increase to Oceania, as the airline filed routing and frequency changes as of 22JUL26. Note at time this post goes to press , schedules for Adelaide and Auckland are not confirmed o

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Mattg]

Wow - Air China launching service from Copenhagen to Iceland.

Air China Schedules Iceland late-Oct 2026 Launch — AeroRoutes

Published at 1045PDT / 1745GMT 22JUL26 Star Alliance member Air China during Northern winter 2026/27 season plans to launch service to Iceland, as the airline schedules Beijing Capital – Copenhagen – Reykjavík Keflavík with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Reservations for this route opened today (22JU

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Wow - Air China launching service from Copenhagen to Iceland.

Air China Schedules Iceland late-Oct 2026 Launch — AeroRoutes

Published at 1045PDT / 1745GMT 22JUL26 Star Alliance member Air China during Northern winter 2026/27 season plans to launch service to Iceland, as the airline schedules Beijing Capital – Copenhagen – Reykjavík Keflavík with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Reservations for this route opened today (22JU

www.aeroroutes.com

Random!

 

[AIRwin]

Some QR Qatar changes for AU NZ at year end.

Qatar Airways NW26 Oceania Service Revision – 22JUL26 — AeroRoutes

Published at 1215PDT / 1915GMT 22JUL26 Qatar Airways during Northern winter 2026/27 season plans additional service increase to Oceania, as the airline filed routing and frequency changes as of 22JUL26. Note at time this post goes to press , schedules for Adelaide and Auckland are not confirmed o

www.aeroroutes.com

BNE-AKL replacing MEL-AKL:

Post in thread 'QR moves Trans Tasman Routes'

Jul 28, 2026

ET just leaked it will be BNE-AKL as well, with the QR prime flights taking over the current VA wetlease slots.

If they give up their NZ alliance - not that there's much to give up.

These aren't a bad option for DONE4s if you don't need the QF SCs (P1).

Qatar Airways Adds Brisbane – Auckland Sector From late-June 2027 — AeroRoutes

Published at 2200PDT 26JUL26 / 0500GMT 27JUL26 Qatar Airways in Northern summer 2027 season plans routing changes for Auckland, the second time within 7-month period. The Oneworld member from 25JUN27 will operate Doha – Brisbane – Auckland service on daily basis, replacing current 1-stop service

www.aeroroutes.com

<snip>
The carrier’s Northern summer 2027 season operation (from 28MAR27) for Oceania as of 26JUL26 as follows. As usual further changes remain highly possible.
Doha – Adelaide 5 weekly A350-900 (1 daily from 14JUN27)
Doha – Brisbane 1 daily 777-300ER...

• Mwenenzi

 

[AIRwin]

And soon TK between KUL and SYD

TK between SIN and SYD

Post in thread 'Turkish Airlines Australian Services'

Aug 4, 2026

This is to replace the Kuala Lumpur stopover for their flights to Istanbul. I'd imagine most people here would really only take this route for onwards travel to Europe.
If I had to take a pick, I'd much rather a Changi stopover than a KL stopover

• Rayesfeg

• 

 

[German_flyer]

BAH-SIN-KUL vv., but seems like SIN.-KUL vv. is not 5th freedom.
The route will be permanent but is also to be representive as a sponsor for the "Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix IN MALAYSIA"

Gulf Air Resumes Kuala Lumpur Service From late-Sep 2026 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0700PDT / 1400GMT 07AUG26 Gulf Air from late-September 2026 schedules service to Malaysia, with Bahrain – Kuala Lumpur flights planned. The airline will serve this route with 787-9 aircraft from 29SEP26 to 23OCT26 on nonstop basis, up to 5 times weekly, switching to 3 weekly from 08

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[AIRwin]

Solomon Airlines between CHC and VLI:

Solomon Airlines NS26 International Network Expansion — AeroRoutes

Published at 0500PST / 1300GMT 20JAN26 Solomon Airlines today (20JAN26) announced planned international service for Northern summer 2026 season, including the launch of new service to Christchurch from July 2026. Honiara – Port Moresby eff 31MAR26 1 weekly A320 (This route was briefly served

www.aeroroutes.com

This new route will be cancelled:

Solomon Airlines 2H26 International Service Changes – 30AUG26 — AeroRoutes

Published at 0500PDT / 1200GMT 01SEP26 Solomon Airlines in recent schedule update filed international service changes for the remainder of second half of 2026. Planned service changes include the following. Honiara – Port Moresby 25AUG26 – 08DEC26 1 weekly service suspended Port Vila – Chris

www.aeroroutes.com