Route & Connectivity: Week 25, 2026

Royal Air Maroc has strengthened its European network with the launch of a new three-times-weekly direct service between Casablanca and Verona, further expanding its presence in ITALY to eight destinations. The inaugural flight, AT890, took off on 21 June 2026, operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8 (registration CN-RHO), marking the start of regular Wednesday, Friday and Sunday services. The route is designed to serve the large Moroccan and African diaspora in northeastern ITALY, while also supporting growing business and leisure travel demand. Through Royal Air Maroc's Casablanca hub, passengers gain seamless access to the airline's extensive network across Africa, the Americas and the Middle East. Operated with a 159-seat Boeing 737-800 fleet on scheduled services, the new route forms part of the carrier's wider expansion strategy, which includes adding 10 aircraft and launching 10 new destinations in 2026, alongside preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Airport operator SAVE Group welcomed the service, highlighting strong demand for African connectivity from Verona, where passenger traffic to Africa grew by 22% in 2025 to approximately 290,000 travellers. The new service also aligns with Royal Air Maroc's long-term plan to expand its fleet to 130 aircraft and leverage Casablanca's future Terminal 3 as a major intercontinental hub.

TAAG Angola Airlines inaugurated its new direct Luanda–Guangzhou route on 23 June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the carrier's international expansion and strengthening air connectivity between ANGOLA and CHINA. The inaugural flight DT692 departed Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport in Luanda at 11:30 a.m., operated by a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (D2-TEQ), before arriving in Guangzhou, one of CHINA'S leading commercial and industrial hubs. Initially operating once weekly, with outbound flights from Luanda every Tuesday and return services from Guangzhou on Friday evenings, the new route is expected to boost business travel, tourism, bilateral trade, and air cargo operations between the two countries. The launch comes amid rapidly expanding economic ties between CHINA and Africa, with bilateral trade exceeding US$348 billion in 2025, and supports ANGOLA'S ambition to position itself as a strategic aviation gateway linking Africa with major global markets. Operated using TAAG's modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, the Guangzhou service further reinforces the airline's strategy of expanding its long-haul network while enhancing connectivity between Africa and Asia.

Volotea has launched a new seasonal direct route connecting Limoges, FRANCE, with Oran, ALGERIA, further strengthening regional air connectivity between the two countries and catering to strong demand for leisure and diaspora travel. The service commenced on 24 June 2026 and will operate once weekly every Wednesday for a two-month summer season between Limoges–Bellegarde Airport and Oran Ahmed Ben Bella Airport. The new route is primarily aimed at serving the large Algerian community living in FRANCE, as well as families, holidaymakers, and passengers visiting friends and relatives, while also supporting tourism and cultural exchanges. By offering a non-stop connection, the airline eliminates the need for travellers to connect through major French hubs such as Paris or Lyon, reducing travel times and providing greater convenience. The introduction of the service reflects Volotea's strategy of linking underserved regional airports with destinations that experience strong seasonal demand, while enhancing accessibility between the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of FRANCE and one of ALGERIA'S key coastal cities.

Air Europa has launched a new direct long-haul service between Johannesburg and Madrid on June 25, 2026, operating three weekly flights—flight UX157 using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (EC-OMB)—marking a significant expansion of SOUTH AFRICA’S intercontinental connectivity through OR Tambo International Airport. The route, which operates more than 300 flights annually and offers over 92,000 seats, is expected to strengthen SOUTH AFRICA’S links with SPAIN while also improving access to Europe and Latin America via Air Europa’s Madrid-Barajas hub, which connects to more than 55 destinations. Tourism authorities believe the service could boost Spanish visitor arrivals to SOUTH AFRICA by over 50%, raising annual arrivals from about 33,000 to a target of 50,000 by reducing reliance on indirect European connections. Beyond tourism, airport officials and stakeholders highlight broader economic benefits, including increased cargo capacity, trade facilitation, and enhanced positioning of Johannesburg as a key African aviation hub, particularly as post-pandemic international air travel demand continues to recover and airlines expand long-haul networks into Africa.

Air Algérie inaugurated its new direct service between Algiers, ALGERIA, and Luanda, ANGOLA, on Saturday, 27 June 2026, marking another milestone in the airline's strategy to strengthen connectivity across Africa. The inaugural flight AH5360, operated by an Airbus A330-200 (7T-VJB), departed Houari Boumediene International Airport in the presence of senior government officials, aviation authorities, the Angolan Ambassador to ALGERIA, and Air Algérie executives. The launch follows directives from Abdelmadjid Tebboune and agreements reached during the May 2026 state visit of João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to ALGERIA, reflecting both countries' commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation. The new route is expected to enhance connectivity for business travellers, investors, tourists, and the wider public while boosting trade, investment, tourism, and cultural exchanges between ALGERIA and ANGOLA. It also supports Air Algérie's broader ambition of positioning Algiers as a regional aviation hub connecting Africa with global destinations, forming part of the airline's ongoing network expansion across the continent in response to growing passenger demand and increasing economic integration.