As international tourist arrivals approach pre-pandemic levels, 2023 promises to be a year of major rebound for the travel industry. Americans can also look forward to the continued strength of the U.S. dollar and the expansion of service to exciting destinations extending from the south of Spain to the South Pacific.
Travel demand is very high, flights are extremely full, and airline lounges are packed, according to Dayvee Sutton, national television correspondent and host of the adventure travel show “Go! Explore.” But despite the crowds, the outlook for air travel this year should be more positive. “With the pressure the airline industry now has from the federal government, consumers can hope for better days,” Sutton says.
A major part of the improving situation is the launch of new and exciting international airline routes. Carriers are once again expanding their route networks in big ways and adding flights into unique destinations. Here are nine new international airline routes we can’t wait to fly this year.
The first U.S. airline route to Tahiti
In December 2022, Delta launched nonstop service from Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti, three times per week. The new route makes it much easier to plan an escape to the dreamy South Pacific archipelago known for its overwater bungalows, foods like poisson cru, and black pearls. December also saw the opening of the new Hilton Hotel Tahiti in Papeete, which added 200 rooms, the island's largest pool, and an overwater restaurant serving Italian fare.
An hour-long flight from Papeete transports you to the idyllic Bora Bora lagoon where luxury resorts like the St. Regis Bora Bora and the newly renovated Four Seasons Bora Bora offer extravagant villas and jaw-dropping vistas of the island’s turquoise waters and Mt. Otemanu. Polynesia isn’t just Papeete and Bora Bora, however. There are more than 100 stunning islands and atolls, from Moorea, the second largest and most rugged island in French Polynesia, to Tetiaroa, a beautiful private island featuring luxury resort, The Brando.
New York JFK to Auckland on Qantas
Starting in June 2023, Qantas will begin a three-times-weekly service between Auckland and New York JFK on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Though the travel time, alone, takes nearly a day (about 17 hours), once you arrive in the capital of New Zealand, you’ll be so glad you made the journey.
Surrounded by bays and islands, Auckland is the gateway to New Zealand’s north island. If outdoor adventure is your thing, you’ll be spoiled for choices, from bungee jumping near Lake Taupo to black water rafting in Waitomo Caves. Take the Hobbiton set tour to visit filming locations for “The Lord of the Rings” movies, and learn about Māori culture in Rotorua, where you can also take a dip in Lake Tarawera’s Hot Water Beach. For a relaxing stay in the heart of Auckland, the new 271-room JW Marriott Auckland in Auckland’s Central Business District is only a short walk from the city’s Viaduct Harbour and other major attractions.
A host of launches from JetBlue
From the Big Apple to Aruba
JetBlue is launching two new nonstop routes to Aruba from Newark and New York’s LaGuardia airport. The Aruba Airport Authority in partnership with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection also unveiled a major airport project last year with the opening of the Global Entry Enrollment Center, allowing U.S. citizens to expedite their departure from the island. Famous for its beaches, Aruba has some of the clearest, warmest waters you'll ever encounter, like Palm Beach and Flamingo Beach at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, where people come to get up close and personal with wild pink flamingos.
Nonstop service to Paris
Marking its first mainland Europe destination, JetBlue will launch service from both Boston and New York’s JFK airport to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport in summer 2023. As the “City of Light” prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the Olympic Games in 2024, new luxury hotels have sprung up all over Paris during the past few years. Among them are Cheval Blanc Paris, a 72-room property by LVMH, which overlooks Pont Neuf, Paris’ oldest bridge, and Le Belgrand, a boutique property just steps from the Arc de Triomphe and the city’s grandest avenue, the Champs-Elysées.
A short hop to Bermuda
JetBlue is launching a daily seasonal summer service from LaGuardia to Bermuda on May 5. Home of the Rum Swizzle, beautiful pink-sand beaches, and world-class sailing, "Bermy" is also full of notable historic sites, such as the African Diaspora Heritage Trail, and natural wonders like Crystal Caves. Stay at a number of luxury beach resorts on the island, including Rosewood Bermuda, St. Regis Bermuda, and the Bermudiana Beach Resort, which will open as the island’s first Hilton-branded property in fall 2023.
Cincinnati to London with British Airways
On June 5, 2023, British Airways will begin a new route from Cincinnati to London, using a three-cabin Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The route will operate five times per week during summer and four times per week during winter.
While London will be abuzz with the coronation of a new monarch this spring, the cosmopolitan city is also bringing back a number of cultural events such as the Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s largest street festival. Legendary department store, Harrods, is one of the city’s best spots for upscale shopping as well as afternoon tea, and the store will be the newest location for renowned Japanese restaurant Kinoya in October. London is also no stranger to high-end hotels like Claridge’s Mayfair, and Six Senses Mayfair and 1 Hotel London Mayfair are scheduled to open in 2023. Most of the city’s iconic attractions like Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace are within walking distance or a short ride on the Tube, so you’re never too far away from the action no matter where you stay.
New nonstops to Istanbul
Fueled by the 2018 opening of the new Istanbul airport, which is the world’s largest, Turkish Airlines continues to expand its routes to the U.S. Four-times-weekly service from Seattle to Istanbul launched in 2022, and upcoming routes from Denver and Detroit are slated for later this year.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic as well as the 90th anniversary of Turkish Airlines. To commemorate these milestones, the airline is offering a few special services, including Touristanbul, a complimentary city tour for travelers having a layover of at least six hours, and Stopover in Istanbul, which comes with complimentary hotel stays in four-star and five-star hotels, depending on which cabin class they flew in.
Straddling two continents, Istanbul is one of the world’s great food cities. Besides tasty snacks and street food like roasted chestnuts, there are 53 Michelin-star restaurants, including Neolokal, which offers six-course tasting menus featuring items like slow-braised pumpkin and bulgur dumplings. Explore more than 2,500 years of history in the city’s oldest district, Sultanahmet, which is home to Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, and Hagia Sophia. For more than just a stopover, book a luxury stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, housed in a 19th century former Ottoman palace overlooking the river, or check into the Peninsula Istanbul—which debuts this month in the city’s new Galataport district.
Brand new service to Spain's Costa del Sol
On May 31, United Airlines’ transatlantic network is launching a brand new service from Newark to the Andalusian city of Málaga. Operating three times per week on Boeing’s 757-200 aircraft, the new route will be United’s fifth Spanish destination.
The birthplace of Pablo Picasso, Málaga is celebrating 50 years since the iconic artist’s death, and Picasso’s former home, now the Museo Casa Natal Picasso, is unveiling a new exhibition, “The Ages of Pablo,” from June through October. With nearly 100 miles of coast in southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, there are many seaside towns to explore. Marbella is a hotspot for beach hopping and bar hopping and has a number of lively bars, restaurants, and cafés. When visiting the region, be sure to make time for a day trip to Grenada’s Moorish palace, Alhambra, which is celebrating 150 years as a national monument.
Newark to Dubai on Emirates
A seat aboard Emirates Airlines will make even a 14-hour flight bearable. The carrier is adding yet another route with daily nonstop service from Newark to Dubai. Full of engineering marvels such as the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, and the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made island shaped like a palm tree, Dubai is filled with whimsical modernist architecture and a seemingly endless number of things to do. Visit the colorful Dubai Miracle Garden, hit the “slopes” at ski Dubai, take a desert safari, or cruise on a traditional dhow or luxury yacht. The desert playground also has surprisingly good beaches, so book a stay at Jumeirah Beach Hotel or splurge for a night at the ultra-luxurious Burj al Arab. Even if you don’t stay at the city’s most recognizable landmark, you can still visit the property by dining at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
