This week’s long-haul flight schedule changes from Europe: What you need to know
January 24, 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 15th edition.
This week, there are several key changes. Firstly, Air Canada has revised its planned Airbus A321XLR flight schedule for this summer. It will be the type’s debut on the carrier’s network. It has removed the type on services to Palma de Mallorca and Dublin from its Montreal hub.
Meanwhile, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is also making changes to its long-haul European operation. It will end flights to Manchester for operational reasons, as its already-small fleet of widebody jets gets smaller as some units undergo heavy maintenance.
From the Middle East, Etihad Airways will be cutting one of its daily flights to Frankfurt from its Abu Dhabi hub. However, this is to make room for partner Condor Airlines as it debuts its first flights to the United Arab Emirates this summer. Etihad will reintroduce its second daily flight from winter, this time using an A321LR. In all cases, capacity is up year-on-year.
Finally, China Southern is introducing a new route to Finland, resuming its connection from Beijing to Helsinki. This will be the city’s only connection to the Chinese capital, given that both Finnair and Juneyao Airlines (which currently fly between the two countries) serve Shanghai Pudong. Juneyao also flies to Zhenzghou, though this appears to be suspended from the end of next month.
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 delays planned Airbus A321XLR debut on the route between Porto and Montreal until 15 June 2026. In the meantime, services will use a Boeing 787-9 4x times per week when they launch on 3 June.
- Air Canada removes Airbus A321XLR on flights from Montreal to Dublin.
- Air Canada completely removes the Airbus A321XLR from its Montreal to Palma de Mallorca route.
South Atlantic
- Turkish Airlines removes flights from Istanbul to Caracas from schedules until April 2026 given the security situation.
Africa
- Air France reduces flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Zanzibar from 5x to 3x weekly.
Middle East
- Saudia plans 17 weekly frequencies between London Heathrow to Riyadh, down from 22 last year but up from the 14 planned for 2026 until last week.
- Etihad reduces Frankfurt to Abu Dhabi flights from double daily to just daily on a Boeing 787-9 for S26 as partner Condor launches its own flights between the two cities. Etihad will resume a second daily service with an A321LR in W26. See more below.
Asia
- China Southern Airlines introduces a daily flight between Helsinki and Beijing Daxing from S26. See more below.
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines pulls out of Manchester with the suspension of its 2x weekly services from Sylhet in S26.
Etihad Airways reduces Frankfurt to 1 daily flight for S26, returning in Winter with the A321LR
Etihad Airways is suspending one of its two daily services between Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt this summer. This is not a reflection of its Frankfurt route performance though, which is likely one of its more important European services.
Instead, it is making way for Germany’s Condor Airlines, which will be deploying its Airbus A330-900neo fleet on flights to Abu Dhabi from May 2026. Condor and Etihad are partners.
All things considered, the Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt route will have more seats this summer than it did last year. According to information from Cirium, the two airlines will offer just under 1,000 roundtrip seats more this year per month.
This winter, capacity will increase even further. Etihad will resume its double daily connection from the end of October, using an Airbus A321LR. It is worth highlighting that Condor will also maintain its new daily flights throughout the winter season, meaning three daily services will be offered by the partners
China Southern Airlines resumes Helsinki to Beijing flights
China Southern Airlines will be resuming its route between Beijing Daxing and Helsinki from late March 2026 in time for the summer season. This follows a five year hiatus, after the route was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline will begin operating a Boeing 787-9 on the route three times per week, upgrading to daily from 20 June 2026 as the peak summer season begins. This will be China Southern’s only route to the Nordics.
Finnair previously controlled the China to Finland market, though its domination has taken a hit given Russian airspace restrictions and intensifying competition from long-haul competitors. Instead, the company chose to focus on its North American markets, as well as select destinations in Asia. It recently announced a ground-breaking new route between Helsinki and Melbourne via Bangkok.
The only other operator between China and Finland is Juneyao Airlines which flies four weekly to Shanghai and once weekly to Zhengzhou. This summer, the carrier is increasing flights to Shanghai Pudong to five weekly.
| Airline | Origin | Destination | Weekly frequency (August 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finnair | Helsinki | Shanghai Pudong | 4 |
| China Southern | Beijing Daxing | 7 | |
| Juneyao Airlines | Shanghai Pudong | 5 |
It has removed its service to Zhengzhou from booking engines from the end of February, suggesting that the route will be cut. The route has not yet been added to schedules for winter 2026. The service was introduced in October 2020.
Featured image: Christian Palent | stock.adobe.com
