Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships
Emirates, Air Canada extend partnership to 2032
Emirates and Air Canada have signed an MoU to extend their codeshare and loyalty partnership until December 31, 2032. The agreement builds on their 2022 collaboration, which has carried more than 550,000 passengers across 56 codeshare routes linking Canada, the US, Dubai and other destinations.
The extended partnership will expand reciprocal codeshare services and create potential for additional Canadian gateways within the network. Air Canada places its code on 19 Emirates routes to the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and South-east Asia, while Emirates customers can connect to 37 destinations in Canada and the US via Air Canada services. The interline agreement provides access to more than 225 destinations globally.
Since 2022, Air Canada has co-located its Dubai flights at Terminal 3, giving eligible passengers access to Emirates facilities. Both carriers offer reciprocal earn-and-redeem privileges across their frequent flyer programmes and plan to extend this to Premium Economy cabins.
Air Canada operates daily Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights between Toronto and Dubai. Emirates operates daily A380 flights to Toronto and seven weekly Boeing 777 flights to Montréal.
AirAsia X begins Kuala Lumpur-Istanbul service
AirAsia X (AAX) has launched its first direct service from Kuala Lumpur to Istanbul, marking its entry into Türkiye. The inaugural flight D7-604 departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 on November 14, 2025, and arrived at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
The airline will operate the route four times weekly, providing over 150,000 seats per year. Through AirAsia’s Fly-Thru connection, travellers can now book a seamless journey via AirAsia Malaysia (flight code AK), which runs 11 daily flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, onward to AAX’s longhaul service to Istanbul and other destinations.
Philippine Airlines expands North American services
Philippine Airlines (PAL) will boost its Manila-Los Angeles non-stop service from 14 to 18 weekly flights from June 1, 2026. The additional services will operate three times daily on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Boeing 777 aircraft.
The expanded schedule will provide improved connectivity to PAL’s domestic and regional network, as well as onward travel throughout the US via partner airlines. The increase complements the planned boost of Manila-Seattle flights from three to five times weekly from November 25, 2025, and supports existing services to San Francisco, Honolulu, New York and Guam.
PAL will also launch thrice-weekly nonstop flights between Cebu and Guam from December 16, 2025, establishing the only direct link between the two destinations.
These changes reflect PAL’s broader North American expansion and aim to offer greater travel options across the Philippines, Asia and the US.
Firefly launches Kuala Lumpur-Krabi route
Firefly has introduced a daily direct jet service between Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 and Krabi. The inaugural flight on November 17, 2025 marked the start of the airline’s latest international expansion.
The service operates daily return flights and adds regional connectivity for travellers moving between Malaysia and Thailand. Firefly passengers receive 10kg checked baggage, in-flight snacks and flexible flight changes, and travellers connecting via Malaysia Airlines have through-checked baggage and an included meal.
