Where you should fly in 2018: The 12 most exciting new routes

Manchester and Seattle, two cities linked by musical heritage, now have non-stop flights
Manchester and Seattle, two cities linked by musical heritage, now have non-stop flights Credit: Getty

The world gets smaller and smaller every year as our friendly pan-global airlines stretch their reach further and further across the planet.

And 2018 will be no different with a host of carriers serving the UK announcing new flight routes to woo British travellers.

From short city hops to long-haul slogs, here are some the best.

1. Nashville, Tennessee, US

When? May 
Who? British Airways from London Heathrow
How many times a week? Five

Hit the Honky Tonk Highway with BA’s latest transatlantic route, which David Casey from RoutesOnline says is of huge significance to the Tennessee city, being its first direct link across the Pond. Our destination expert Douglas Rogers recommends perusing vinyl at Third Man Records, the store of Jack White’s eponymous label, sipping cocktails at the Pinewood Social and hanging out with old timers in cowboy hats at 3rd & Lindsley. BA will fly the route with its 787 Dreamliners.

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

When? February 
Who? Norwegian from London Gatwick
How many times a week? Four

Part of Norwegian’s global expansion plans into low-cost, long-haul, its route to the Argentinian capital from Gatwick (from £279.90 one-way) is its first foray into South America - flying on its 787 Dreamliners. As well as a starting point for a journey exploring the continent, south into the wild drama of Patagonia, west to the winelands of Mendoza, and north into Uruguay, Buenos Aires is “bright, colourful and a meat eater’s paradise,” says the one and only, Chris Tarrant.

The Argentinian capital is a launchpad for South America
The Argentinian capital is a launchpad for South America Credit: Getty

“The service comes amid growing interest in Argentina’s aviation market, with Norwegian set to launch its own budget carrier in the country in the second quarter of 2018,” said Casey.

3. Seattle, Washington, US

When? May 
Who? Thomas Cook from Manchester
How many times a week? Twice

“A new destination for Manchester, increasing the airport’s number of non-stop US routes for next summer to 13,” said Casey, of the route to be flown on Thomas Cook’s Airbus A330s. “In addition to the city being an attractive leisure destination, it is also a summer gateway for cruises going to Alaska.” An icon of west-coast America, Seattle, though occasionally a little rainy, is Washington’s biggest city and a haven of food and culture. Visit the Museum of Pop and Culture (MoPOP; mopop.org) for a history of the city’s grunge heritage.

4. Seychelles

When? March 
Who? British Airways from London Heathrow
How many times a week? Twice

BA returns to the Indian Ocean archipelago after a 14-year break, for a twice-weekly service between March and October. It will be the first direct service to the Seychelles from the UK, meaning flights from London will take 10 hours, rather 13 with a connection in the Middle East. Sensational sealife, remarkable sunsets and the presence of giant fruit bats are just three of many reasons to plan a visit.

5. Lviv, Ukraine

When? September 
Who? Wizz Air from London Luton
How many times a week? Three

The birth of this route from Wizz is the result of Ryanair scrapping plans to introduce new services into Kiev and Lviv. “Wizz Air has clearly seen this as an opportunity and has decided to relaunch its Lviv-Luton service,” says Casey. The city is sometimes claimed to have the most cafes in the world per capita.  Fiona Duncan, after visiting for Telegraph Travel, said: “Though Livivians of today are known for both their fervent nationalism and for their churchgoing, their city has an easy-going, almost frivolous air, filled with university students, embellished by its frothy confection of Renaissance, Baroque, Belle Epoque and Art Nouveau buildings and scented with aromas from its hundreds of Viennese style coffee houses.”

Lviv, a relaxed city with plenty of cafes
Lviv, a relaxed city with plenty of cafes Credit: Getty

6. Doha, Qatar

When? May 
Who? Qatar Airways from Cardiff
How many times a week? Daily

The chief executive of Qatar Airways, Akbar Al Bakerm, was lightly grilled by his own company for introducing the route between the Welsh and Qatari capitals. Do the rugby-mad residents of the Welsh capital long to explore the souks and skyscrapers of Doha? Are Qatari businesses itching to invest in South Wales?  He clearly thought so. The daily route does, however, open up south-west England and Wales to connections to destinations across Australia and New Zealand, Africa and Asia. The route will be flown on a 787 Dreamliner.

7. Newark, New York, US

When? April 2018
Who? Primera Air from London Stansted
How many times a week? Daily

The lesser-known Icelandic-owned airline mainly operates around Scandinavia but burst onto the UK scene earlier this year, announcing a number of long-haul routes from Birmingham and Stansted. A service to New York’s Newark Liberty airport is one of the stalwarts of its fresh offering. Flown on the carrier’s Airbus A321neos, the lead-in fares start at £149.  

Who doesn't want to visit New York?
Who doesn't want to visit New York? Credit: Alamy

8. Boston, Massachusetts, US

When? April 2018
Who? Primera Air from Birmingham
How many times a week? Four

As above, only a nice and convenient route to New England from the Midlands. "Whenever you visit, Boston really does have something for everyone," writes our expert Kathy Arnold. "Founded in 1630, this old lady is not stuck in the past. Georgian-style houses are balanced by soaring glass and steel skyscrapers and venerable museums by edgy contemporary galleries. As in European cities, half the fun is exploring the different neighbourhoods: posh Beacon Hill, the Italian North End and Back Bay, with its shops and cafés. Everyone walks everywhere; when your feet protest, hop on the ‘T’, the public transport system."

9. La Rochelle, France

When? May 2018
Who? Jet2 from Leeds Bradford
How many times a week? Once

Low-cost carrier Jet2 is opening up the north of England to France’s west coast, including the increasingly popular Ile de Re. “Since the 12th century, La Rochelle has been a place of liberties and free custom, a gateway to the New World and a centre of religious struggle,” writes Hannah Watkins for Telegraph Travel. “Today, the city is inspiring as ever with its pioneering environmental commitment to urban ecology.”

10. Genoa, Italy

When? March
Who? Easyjet from Manchester
How many times a week? Twice

Is Genoa Italy’s most underrated city? Perhaps. “Its harbour was alive with boats before the Roman Empire had risen - and it spend the entirety of the Middle Ages as an independent city state, competing with Venice and Ragusa (now Dubrovnik) for trade and influence in the Mediterranean,” writes Chris Leadbeater. “Those halcyon years – and the wealth that they created – linger on in the Renaissance palaces that dot Genoa’s Centro Storico (Old Town). And even if its vast dockyards give it a first-impressions swarthiness, the city reveals its charm if you opt to explore it.”

11. Amritsar, India

When? TBC
Who? Air India from Birmingham
How many times a week? Twice

After the success of Air India’s Birmingham to Delhi service that launched in 2013, the airline is set to become the first airline to link the UK non-stop with Amritsar. There is no start date as of yet, but soon the north-west of India will come plenty more accessible to British travellers. In Amritsar itself, the Golden Temple is a must. Visited by some 80,000 people every day, it is the most sacred site of the Sikh religion.

The Golden Temple of Amritsar
The Golden Temple of Amritsar Credit: Newmarket Holidays

12. Rimini, Italy

When? March
Who? Ryanair from London Stansted
How many times a week? Twice

The only direct flight from the UK to the Italian seaside resort of Rimini will launch next summer, courtesy of Ryanair. Popular with Italians but largely overlooked by Britons - not least because up until now there have been no direct flights - Rimini is about 75 miles south of Bologna. “The beach here is vast, sandy, and - as is often the case in Italy - filled with more sunloungers than seems sensible,” writes Oliver Smith. “Rimini is also one of the country’s pre-eminent party towns, with scores of lively bars along the coast and a few swanky clubs on the outskirts.” Ryanair is also launching Pardubice in the Czech Republic and Oradea, Romania, among others.

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