Here’s our weekly roundup of new air routes and codeshare partnerships
Cathay Pacific expands Latin America codeshares
Cathay Pacific is boosting its Latin America network with new codeshare services to Fortaleza and Recife in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic through oneworld partner Iberia via Madrid.
The additions will bring Argentina and the Dominican Republic into Cathay Pacific’s codeshare network for the first time.
Cathay Pacific currently serves six destinations in four Latin American countries through codeshare partnerships: Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in Brazil, Mexico City and Guadalajara in Mexico, Lima in Peru, and Santiago in Chile.
To support the expanded codeshare network, Cathay Pacific will add three weekly flights to its non-stop Hong Kong-Madrid service from October 25, 2026, increasing the route to daily operations. The additional flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
TransNusa connects Bali and Phuket
TransNusa has launched direct scheduled flights between Bali and Phuket, expanding its international network from Bali.
The new service operates four times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using an Airbus A320 with 174 seats.
Phuket becomes TransNusa’s fourth international destination from Bali, joining Perth, Singapore and Guangzhou, as the airline continues to develop Bali as one of its international hubs in Indonesia.
The route also expands TransNusa’s links with Thailand. The airline will begin scheduled flights between Jakarta and Bangkok on August 6, its second new international route in the second half of 2026.
Emirates rolls out new Economy headrests
Emirates is introducing adjustable headrests across its Economy Class cabins, with installation under way across its fleet.
The U-Dream headrest will be fitted to Economy Class seats on all Emirates Airbus A350s and most of its Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s. Three A350 aircraft are already equipped with the headrest, with the airline targeting installation across its entire A350 fleet by the end of 2026.
The headrest will also be pre-installed on all 270 Boeing 777X aircraft ordered by Emirates. From 2027, installation will begin on the airline’s retrofitted Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.
Developed with Safran Seats as part of its Z400 seat, the headrest can be adjusted vertically and tilted, while its side wings fold inwards to provide head and neck support. It has been tested to meet European Union Aviation Safety Agency safety standards.
Cebu Pacific to introduce Starlink Wi-Fi
Cebu Pacific will equip its fleet with Starlink inflight Wi-Fi from 2027, becoming the first low-cost carrier in South-east Asia to offer the service for passengers, flight crews and operational teams.
Cebu Pacific and fellow Indigo Partners portfolio airlines Frontier Airlines, Wizz Air, Volaris and JetSMART plan to install Starlink on more than 1,000 aircraft collectively.
The satellite-based system, developed by SpaceX, will support activities including streaming, online gaming and internet-based work during flights.
