This week’s long-haul flight schedule changes from Europe: What you need to know
January 10, 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 13th edition.
This week, Pakistan International Airlines revealed it plans to resume a second route to London Heathrow, with flights from Lahore. It will begin with one weekly services with a Boeing 777 from March.
In other relevant news, Etihad Airways is introducing a brand-new route to Luxembourg from its Abu Dhabi base, becoming the first Middle Eastern carrier to serve the European country.
Elsewhere, Ethiopian Airlines is adding service to Lyon, France. Interestingly, the route operates via Geneva to lower risk. Finally, as reported earlier this week, Aer Lingus is poised to shut down its Manchester base, following previous reports of poor performance.
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 Canada reduces upcoming Budapest to Toronto flights from 4x to 3x weekly in September and October 2026.
South Atlantic
- No relevant changes.
Africa
- Turkish Airlines switches from Luanda’s old airport (LUA) to the new one (NBJ) from February 2026 for its twice-weekly flights from Istanbul.
- Ethiopian Airlines increases overall Addis Ababa to Geneva flights to 7x weekly from S26 with the launch of 3x weekly Lyon (ADD-GVA-LYS-GVA-ADD).
- Ethiopian Airlines reduces Addis Ababa to Marseille from 4x to 3x weekly from S26.
- Air Côte d’Ivoire increases newly launched Abidjan to Paris Charles de Gaulle flights from daily to 8x weekly from April 2026.
Middle East
- Etihad adds flights between Abu Dhabi and Luxembourg from W26 with an A321LR.
Asia
- Pakistan International Airlines resumes London Heathrow to Lahore, 1x weekly, from S26.
- Hainan Airlines increases Madrid to Chongqing from 2x weekly to 3x weekly from S26.
- Juneyao Air consolidates Helsinki network to Shanghai with the suspension of its 1x weekly Zhengzhou flights from March 2026.
Etihad will become the first Middle Eastern airline to serve Luxembourg
Etihad announced a brand new route to Luxembourg earlier this week, operating three times a week with an Airbus A321LR. The new service will begin on 29 October, 2026 for the start of the aviation winter season. It is an interesting route for several reasons.
The launch will mark the first time a Middle Eastern carrier has served Luxembourg. Typically, demand from Luxembourg falls within the catchment areas of larger neighbouring cities like Brussels and Amsterdam.
The United Arab Emirates is already served from the country though. Flag carrier Luxair flies between Luxembourg and Dubai World Central (DWC) airport. It uses a narrowbody Boeing 737 MAX on the route twice-weekly, providing just 168 seats in total in a two-class layout. It also flew to Abu Dhabi in April and May 2025 while works were underway at DWC.
Similarly, Etihad’s new service will use a narrowbody A321LR configured with 144 seats in a three-class layout. Etihad will be the only carrier to offer lie-flat first class to the Middle East.
In its official statement, the carrier also highlighted that the route would also cater to demand from nearby countries. It described Luxembourg as a “gateway market for neighbouring France, Germany and Belgium.”
Ethiopian Airlines’ new Lyon flights
Ethiopian Airlines will be launching a new route to Lyon, France from 2 July 2026. The flight will operate using an Airbus A350-900 three times per week. Interestingly, it will route via Geneva.
This adds to Ethiopian’s already-extensive network within Europe, including several fifth-freedom connections. In this case, Geneva-Lyon-Geneva legs will not be bookable.
Because the flight operates via Geneva, it is lower risk. If it does not fill the flight to Addis Ababa from Lyon, the remaining seats can be filled from its pre-existing station in Geneva. Overall, Geneva will see the carrier once daily this summer.
Ethiopian Airlines’ Geneva service in S26
| Routing | Frequency (weekly) |
| Addis Ababa → Geneva → Manchester | 4x weekly |
| Addis Ababa → Geneva → Lyon | 3x weekly |
| Total Geneva frequency | 7x weekly |
All legs in the Manchester route are bookable, including westbound from Geneva.
The new Lyon service means it will serve three gateways in France, alongside Paris Charles de Gaulle and Marseille. Marseille flights will see a drop in frequency from four to three weekly this summer.
Featured image: photogoodwin | stock.adobe.com
