This week’s long-haul flight schedule changes from Europe: What you need to know
January 3, 2026
Each week, Aerospace Global News takes a look at some of the long-haul route changes to and from Europe, all of which are subject to further adjustments. This is the 12th edition.
Of course, given the start of the new year, there have not been many changes filed this week. While not as exciting as the reveal of Azul’s suspension of its Paris route or last week’s announcement that LEVEL would be introducing a service from Barcelona to Lima, there are a few noteworthy changes this week from Asia and South America.
Firstly, LATAM has filed an increase to its São Paulo to Amsterdam flights which have not even left the ground yet. The route is launching at the end of March and is part of the carrier’s recently announced long-haul expansion that also included new routes to Brussels and Cape Town.
The second important change includes Air India‘s resumption of its Delhi to Rome Fiumicino flight. More significantly, perhaps, the rest of its European network will see slight decreases in frequencies – possibly (though not confirmed) to ensure sufficient capacity is available for trips to the Colosseum.
This week’s schedule changes
Using data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, the below is a non-exhaustive list of developments this week. For readability purposes, adjustments that extend to a large part or the entirety of the 2026 summer season have been listed as ‘S26’. For the 2026/2027 Winter season, this is listed as ‘W26’.
Long-haul is defined as flights over 3,000 miles, meaning not all Europe to non-Europe flights are included, but only those that meet the threshold.
The sample was selected based on relevance and market trends, and does not include smaller changes such as minor aircraft changes with a limited impact on capacity. As always, schedules are subject to change. And, as we have seen in previous editions, they do.
North Atlantic
- Air Tahiti Nui increases Paris Charles de Gaulle to Los Angeles flights to 5x weekly for W26 up from planned 4x weekly.
South Atlantic
- LATAM files increases to its upcoming São Paulo to Amsterdam flights from 3x weekly to 5x weekly from April 2026 (when the route inaugurates). Brussels remains 3x weekly.
Africa
- No major changes.
Middle East
- Luxair has refiled its Luxembourg to Dubai World Central route, meaning it is not being suspended as suggested in last week’s update. That edition has been updated to reflect today’s filing.
Asia
- Air India schedules Rome to Delhi resumption from S26, 4x weekly.
- Air India reduces Milan to Delhi from daily to 5x weekly from S26.
- Air India reduces Birmingham to Amritsar from 4x weekly to 3x weekly from S26.
- Air India reduces Copenhagen and Zurich to Delhi from 5x weekly to 4x weekly for S26.
- IndiGo files Amsterdam to Mumbai increase from 3x weekly to daily from S26.
- IndiGo increases Manchester to Mumbai flights from 3x weekly to 4x weekly from S26.
- China Southern Airlines increases Istanbul to Guangzhou from planned daily to 10x weekly from S26. Last year it operated 3x weekly.
- Cathay Pacific adds additional frequency on flights from Barcelona and Rome to Hong Kong from S26, both now reaching 4x weekly.
LATAM’s Amsterdam increase
LATAM is already planning to increase flights to Amsterdam before the new route begins. Connecting São Paulo to the Dutch capital, the new route will launch on 29 March with a Boeing 787. Flights were initially meant to operate thrice weekly.
The increases in frequency are already reflected in the carrier’s booking systems. Flights will begin operating four times weekly from the end of March until 23 April at which point the Amsterdam route will be operated five times per week.
LATAM Airlines — São Paulo (GRU) to Amsterdam (AMS) frequency increases
| Operating period | Frequency (ops/week) |
| 29 March – 22 April | 4× weekly |
| 23 April – 25 October | 5× weekly |
Source: LATAM reservation system
As we had previously reported both Amsterdam and Brussels have considerable point-to-point demand. Last year, Amsterdam had roughly double the number of passengers travelling to São Paulo than from Brussels. However, Amsterdam benefits from a nonstop connection with KLM, while Brussels remains unserved.
LATAM’s increases to Amsterdam most likely reflect the strength of bookings since it first announced the flights in November last year. 5x weekly frequencies also reflects the carrier’s commitment to both the Dutch and European markets, but also hints at additional available long-haul capacity that the carrier might have had spare for summer 2026.
The route will rely on the carrier’s broad customer base in South America, while also promoting point-to-point opportunities for Dutch travellers to São Paulo and connections beyond to the rest of the continent.
LATAM’s General Manager for Europe told Aerospace Global News in an interview last month that connections would be relevant for both Brussels and Amsterdam, routes that form part of its “profitable and disciplined” growth strategy.
Air India’s Rome resumption
Air India is resuming flights to Rome Fiumicino Airport after a 5 year hiatus. It last flew to Rome in October 2021, with a route from Amritsar. It flew from Delhi until March 2021.
The service will be returning as of 25 March, 2026. Air India will deploy a Boeing 787-8 on the route five times per week, offering 238 seats in Economy and 18 seats in Business class. ITA Airways currently flies the route daily with an Airbus A330-900 aircraft. It previously also used the Airbus A330-200 on the route, though these were indefinitely withdrawn from service a few days ago.
Airline route strategy expert Behramjee Ghadially argues that while the Rome route is a “good long-term strategy,” it was not the right choice. Instead, he argues that Madrid would have been a better choice for Air India given higher point-to-point demand, yields, and has no non-stop competition.
He also noted that IndiGo’s up-coming Airbus A321XLR fleet – which is set to debut on flights to Athens later this month – would eventually be able to reach Milan and Rome from India, making Madrid a safer choice.
Featured image: LATAM Airlines
