New jet routes to open up the world

THIS winter and next spring, airlines are introducing some enticing non-stop services from the UK to destinations currently reachable only with a change of planes. Low-cost carriers, meanwhile, are launching flights to popular cities in North America with the promise of more affordable fares – though bear in mind that on top of their basic prices there are often extra charges for checking in bags, meals and so forth.

Here’s my pick of the new routes and services on offer.

PUERTO RICO

THE Caribbean island is a fascinating blend of American and Hispanic cultures, and has elegant colonial towns, great beaches and dramatic scenery. Yet, with no direct flights from the UK, pretty much the only British holidaymakers to the US commonwealth arrive on a cruise ship. That will change on November 4, when budget airline Norwegian starts twiceweekly, non-stop flights from Gatwick to Puerto Rico’s capital San Juan.

Fares can be as low as £270 return, but that excludes £50 for taking a checked-in bag both ways.

COSTA RICA

DIRECT flights to this exotic Central American country known for sloths, surf and volcanoes become possible on November 2, with a new weekly service with Thomson, from Gatwick. If you want a more flexible, less packaged trip, note that British Airways is also starting non-stop flights to Costa Rica – twice a week from Gatwick from May 4 next year.

PERU

IF TREKKING the Inca Trail and watching the sun rise over the citadel of Machu Picchu is on your wish list, next year may be the time to do it. BA starts the only nonstop flights from the UK to the Peruvian capital of Lima on May 4, three times a week from Gatwick.

CANADA

NEXT year will see cheaper flight options to Canada. In early May, WestJet, the country’s leading low-cost airline, is starting 28 nonstop flights a week between Gatwick and six Canadian cities – Calgary, Edmonton, St John’s, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

On the Gatwick-St John’s route, I’ve found fares as low as £320 return, including a checked-in bag.

Icelandic budget airline WOW air is also starting flights from Gatwick to Canada next May – via Reykjavik to Montreal and Toronto. Fares were initially on sale for as little as £99 one way, but last week the lead-in prices were more like £165 to £190 one way (without extras).

USA

DO YOU know the way to San José? British Airways does. On May 4, BA is starting the first non-stop flights from the UK (daily, from Heathrow) to San José, the gateway to California’s Silicon Valley. San José is also a good choice as a jumping-off point for west-coast highlights such as Monterey.

Salt Lake City, in easy reach of southern Utah’s spectacular national parks, is another city to be getting non-stop flights. Delta will be introducing a summer-only service from Heathrow on May 2.

Big news if you live in the North of England: in May, Thomas Cook is launching twice-weekly flights from Manchester to Boston (from £399 return) and to Los Angeles (from £499 return). These services will be the only direct flights to these American cities from a UK airport outside London.