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The pandemic has caused a drastic shift in airline routes, resulting in reductions, suspensions, and outright cancellations of service. However, even as new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge, airlines are launching a bevy of new routes. And despite fast-moving Omicron, many countries around the world have opened their borders to vaccinated tourists willing to follow protocols like testing.
"Since many Americans have been grounded for nearly two years, they’re eager to travel again in 2022 and are likely to choose routes that are closer to home or that have nonstop flight options,” says Benét J. Wilson, aviation expert and senior editor at The Points Guy.
Those are two booking trends that airlines seem to have predicted: Among the lineup of the most noteworthy new international flights this year are first-ever nonstop routes from the U.S. to buzzy tourist locales, near and far. Here are six new international airline routes to get excited about in 2022—and why we're booking our seats.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The first U.S. airline route to Amman, Jordan
On May 5, United Airlines will begin a new service from Washington, D.C. to Amman, Jordan, making it the first North American airline to fly to Jordan. Operating three times per week, the route brings Americans one step closer to the beautiful deserts, seaside resorts, and historic cities of the country called the “oasis of stability.”
Most travelers to Jordan flock to the lost city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Jordan is also home to Wadi Rum desert basin and the Dead Sea, where people come from around the world to buoyantly float in one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water.
Direct hops to the Caribbean's most idyllic beaches
American Airlines’ new route to Anguilla offers travelers a more convenient option to reach the island’s powdery shores. The route began operating three times per week on December 11 and is the first commercial nonstop service by an American carrier from the mainland U.S. to Anguilla.
Given the island’s laid-back vibe, one of the best things to do in Anguilla is relaxing on the island’s 33 beautiful beaches. Shoal Bay East, which continuously ranks among the world’s best beaches, offers two miles of pristine sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters. A coveted honeymoon destination, the island is dotted with boutique luxury resorts like Zemi Beach House, Belmond Cap Juluca, and Malliouhana.
Newark to Milan in all-business class
Building upon its new one-stop route from Newark to Tel Aviv, French boutique carrier La Compagnie is starting a new service on April 13, from Newark to Milan, Italy. Operating four times per week, the all-business class airline will provide a high-end flight option in the highly competitive route between the New York metropolitan area and Milan.
While onboard the company’s Airbus A321neo aircraft, travelers can enjoy one of 76 full-flat seats, four-course menus, and bread from Maison Kayser boulangerie. As part of its “Relax Onboard” program, the airline has partnered with Petit BamBou to offer meditation programs via its in-flight entertainment system.
First nonstops from New York to the Azores
On March 31, Azores Airlines will launch a new service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Ponta Delgada, the capital city of Portugal’s Azores islands. Starting May 13, United Airlines will also launch service from Newark (EWR) to Ponta Delgada.
Reachable from the East Coast of the U.S. in under six hours, this island archipelago is blessed with unique flora and fauna, active volcanoes, and crater lakes, such as Lagoa do Fogo on São Miguel island. The islands’ culinary specialties include black sausage, chá verde (green tea), and cozido das furnas (meat and vegetable stew) as well as volcanic wine produced from Arinto dos Açores, an indigenous grape varietal grown in volcanic basalt on the coast of the island of Pico.
Regular routes to the Caribbean's natural wonders
In December 2021, American Airlines began the first regularly scheduled direct flight from the U.S. to Dominica. Dubbed the “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” the lush, unspoiled beauty of Dominica—the youngest island in the Lesser Antilles—isn’t found anywhere else in the Caribbean.
Soak up the island’s natural scenery in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 17,000-acre park contains five volcanoes, numerous hiking trails, and Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest hot springs. For a luxury stay overlooking Douglas Bay, head to the Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski, the island’s first five-star resort, which opened in 2019.
Historic flights from San Francisco to Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines, the flagship carrier of Vietnam, began the first nonstop service between the U.S. and Vietnam on November 28, 2021. The service operates twice per week from San Francisco to Ho Chi Minh City, but the airline plans to expand the route to seven flights per week after the pandemic subsides.
“The new airline route offers a chance for Americans to consider a destination they may not have thought of visiting,” says Wilson, who was forced to cancel a trip to Vietnam at the onset of the pandemic and notes that this new flight will allow her and other travelers to get there faster.
Vietnam’s largest city is a constant hub of activity—a big reason is the nearly two million scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles occupying the city’s streets. If navigating around scooters isn’t enough of an adventure, travelers can visit areas like the labyrinthine Binh Thanh district to try some of the best street food, not only in Vietnam but the world.