China Southern’s Early Resumption and Iberia’s New Daily Newark Flights: All You Need to Know About Europe’s Long-Haul Changes

Published on December 1, 2025

As the airline industry adapts to rising demand and changing travel patterns, several notable long-haul flight schedule changes have been announced from Europe. This week, China Southern Airlines has brought forward the resumption of its flights from London Gatwick to Guangzhou, while Iberia is expanding its services with new daily flights from Madrid to Newark using the A321XLR. These changes are part of broader trends in the North Atlantic and Asian markets, where airlines are responding to growing demand by adjusting flight frequencies and introducing new routes. These shifts highlight the industry’s efforts to meet passenger expectations while navigating logistical challenges, such as airport slot availability and airline fleet optimization.

Key Changes in the North Atlantic

One of the most significant developments this week is Iberia’s announcement of daily flights between Madrid and Newark starting from the summer of 2026. This new service will complement Iberia’s existing routes to New York-JFK, further emphasizing the growing demand for travel between Spain and the United States. The airline will deploy the Airbus A321XLR for these flights, offering a more fuel-efficient and longer-range aircraft, ideal for transatlantic travel.

Additionally, Finnair has decided to end its seasonal Helsinki to Seattle flights earlier than planned for the 2026 season, with the final outbound flight scheduled for September 28, a few weeks ahead of the previous year’s timeline.

Another notable shift in the North Atlantic is the expansion of services by Air Canada. The airline is adding several new transatlantic routes, including connections from Montreal to Berlin and Nantes, and from Toronto to Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Additionally, Air Canada’s Montreal to Tel Aviv route is resuming, providing more options for travelers looking to connect between Canada and Europe.

Changes in Asia and the Middle East

Asia’s influence on European flight schedules continues to grow, particularly with Chinese airlines making adjustments to their European services. China Southern Airlines is bringing forward the resumption of its London Gatwick to Guangzhou flights, now set to restart by March 2026, a few months earlier than this year’s mid-June launch. This route, which complements China Southern’s daily London Heathrow to Guangzhou service, highlights the airline’s ability to adapt to high demand while navigating potential slot limitations at major airports like Heathrow.

Similarly, China Eastern Airlines is ramping up its Istanbul to Beijing route, increasing frequency from three weekly flights to four weekly flights for the summer of 2026. Additionally, China Eastern has announced the resumption of its Istanbul to Xi’an flights, which will start earlier in March 2026, providing additional options for travelers between Turkey and China.

Meanwhile, Juneyao Air is adding new weekly frequencies from Helsinki and Athens to Shanghai, further expanding China’s presence in European air travel. These moves are part of a broader effort by Chinese carriers to capture a larger share of the growing demand for travel between Europe and Asia.

Increased South Atlantic Connections

The South Atlantic region also saw new additions this week. Neos, an Italian carrier, has introduced a weekly flight from Milan Malpensa to Cartagena, Colombia, beginning in the summer of 2026. This marks a further strengthening of Neos’s presence in Latin America, offering travelers more options for exploring South America from Italy.

What Should Travelers Do?

For travelers planning long-haul flights from Europe, these schedule changes present new opportunities, but also require careful attention to the evolving flight schedules. Here are some tips:

• Plan ahead: Given the increased demand for transatlantic flights, booking in advance will help secure the best fares and preferred flight times.
• Check new routes: If you’re traveling between Europe and Asia, explore newly added services from airlines like Iberia and China Southern for better options and more flexibility.
• Consider alternative gateways: With the introduction of new flights to secondary airports like Gatwick and Nantes, look at alternative entry points to your destination that may offer less crowded options.
• Stay updated on frequency adjustments: Airlines frequently update their schedules, so keep checking for changes, especially if you’re booking flights for summer 2026 or beyond.

Impact on Tourism and Connectivity

These changes are more than just operational adjustments—they also reflect growing trends in tourism and global connectivity. For destinations like Newark, Berlin, and Cartagena, the introduction of new services will make these cities more accessible to travelers from regions that were previously underserved. This, in turn, is expected to boost tourism in these locations, offering new experiences to international visitors.

Similarly, the continued push by Chinese airlines to expand their European networks signals a strong recovery in travel between Europe and China after the disruptions caused by the Ukraine-Russia war. By adjusting schedules and expanding routes, these airlines are catering to the strong demand for connections between Asia and Europe.

Final Thoughts

The airline industry’s dynamic nature means that changes to long-haul flight schedules are a constant. This week’s updates are part of a larger trend of increased international connectivity as airlines adapt to evolving travel demands. For travelers planning trips to and from Europe, these changes offer more flexibility and more options to explore exciting new destinations across the globe.