These Are the Most Exciting Airline Routes Launching in September

Summer is over and airlines, like the weather, are shifting into fall mode. That means fewer leisure-oriented flights and more connections aimed at business travelers.

In Travel+Leisure’s latest highlights of the most exciting routes launching in the month ahead, September brings more connecting options on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Spirit Airlines takes on low-fare behemoth Southwest Airlines in California. And European discounter Norse Atlantic has a new transatlantic option from Las Vegas.

American, Delta, and United Add Connectivity

American, Delta, and United are adding several new connecting routes this month. The additions come as airlines look to add options for business travelers as leisure travel slows down after Labor Day.

Delta is expanding its offerings at New York LaGuardia with a nonstop to Tulsa beginning September 3. It will compete with American on the route. Delta’s new flight departs New York at 5:35 p.m. daily for the three-hour-and-35-minute run to Tulsa with economy fares ranging from $193 to $448 one way.

United is adding new nonstops from its Los Angeles (LAX) and Washington Dulles hubs beginning September 26. The airline will connect LAX and St. George, Utah — the home of its regional affiliate SkyWest Airlines and a popular destination with access to Lake Powell— with one-way economy fares starting at $145 for the one-hour-and-30-minute flight that departs LAX daily at 1:30 p.m. 

From Washington, United will add thrice-daily flights to Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., with economy fares starting at $371 one way. Greenville flights depart Dulles at 8:15 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 5:20 p.m. for the hour-and-a-half trip. The new link is part of a larger 10-route expansion of United’s Dulles hub this year aimed at increasing connecting flight options there.

American will link Chicago O’Hare and Evansville, Indiana, from September 3 as part of its effort to provide the most domestic connectivity of any U.S. airline. The route, which the airline last flew in 2022, complements American’s existing service to Evansville from Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth, according to Cirium Diio schedules. Flights depart Chicago at 12:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for the roughly one-hour-and-20-minute trip. Economy fares begin at $391 one way.

JetBlue Expands in Maine Ahead of Leaf Season

JetBlue Airways, not normally one to add regional routes, lands in Maine’s North Woods this month. The airline will connect Boston with Presque Isle — a city closer to the Canadian border than Acadia National Park or Maine’s largest city, Portland — from September 5. Flights will depart Boston daily at 3 p.m. for the one-hour-and-25-minute trip north. Economy fares start at $59 one way. JetBlue will receive nearly $22 million over two years from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Essential Air Service program to operate the route. 

Cape Air Adds New York-Cape Cod Link

Regional airline Cape Air links New York JFK and its Hyannis, Mass., base on September 4. The flight replaces one by partner JetBlue that ends the day before and thus ensures continuous year-round air service between New York and Cape Cod. The flight departs New York daily at 11:55 a.m. with one-way fares starting at $261. 

Spirit Takes on Southwest in California

Discounter Spirit takes on California’s largest airline, Southwest Airlines, with new routes from Burbank to Sacramento and San Jose on September 4. Spirit’s Sacramento flights depart Burbank up to twice daily at 9:10 a.m. and around midday (the exact time depends on the day) for the one-hour-and-15-minute flight north. San Jose flights depart twice daily at 11:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. for the one-hour-and-five-minute trip. Airfares range from $39-49 one way on both routes.

On the other side of the country, Spirit will link Nashville and New Orleans four times a week from September 4. Flights depart Nashville at 6:05 a.m. on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays for the one-hour-and-35-minute journey. Fares range $39-67 one way.

WestJet and Norse Atlantic Add International Links

Also from Nashville, WestJet will add a new link to Winnipeg on Mondays and Fridays from September 26. Flights depart Nashville 11:10 a.m. for the three-hour-and-10-minute trip north. Fares, however, vary widely by week: deals as cheap as $88 one way in economy can be found but on some days fares spike to over $1,000 one way. 

European discounter Norse Atlantic will land in Las Vegas on September 12 with a new nonstop to London. Flights depart Sin City on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 4:45 p.m. local time and arrive at Gatwick Airport south of London at 10:35 a.m. the next day. Introductory economy fares start at $525 one way. Norse is in good company on the route with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways already operating up to three Las Vegas-London flights a day, Cirium Diio schedules show.