New long-haul flight routes for 2023

The city of Cincinnati is based in Ohio, but its airport location happens to sit on the borders of both Kentucky and Indiana too, so UK travellers will now be able to easily access three states for the price of one flight. Starting from 5 June, the British Airways service from London Heathrow will operate five times a week during the summer, and four times a week in winter.

Once landed, travellers can enjoy the culture of Cincinnati, exploring the Queen City’s many museums and breweries, and attending one of the city’s three major sports teams’ games. But there’s so much more on offer on a road trip around all the neighbouring states. Head to Kentucky for bluegrass jazz music, bourbon whiskey and fantastic horse racing; Indiana for Indiana Dunes, the youngest National Park in the USA; and Ohio for Eerie Lake and lively Cleveland.

Hungarian airline Wizz Air have announced the launch of its direct flight from London Luton to Amman in Jordan. It started on 13 December 2022, and the new service will be flying three times a week.

Often dubbed ‘the White City’ for its pale limestone houses, Amman’s ancient ruins, museums, art galleries and thriving food scene are just a five-and-a-half-hour flight away. And for those who want to see the much-celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, the ancient Nabataean city of is only a few hours drive from the capital.

Wanderlust has long championed Guyana as one of the world’s great unsung destinations. Now the only English-speaking nation in South America is about to get a whole lot easier to reach, as a new twice-weekly British Airways flight from London Gatwick is launched. The new route will go via the island of St Lucia in the Caribbean before landing in Guyana capital Georgetown, with the first service due to take off on 27 March 2023.

Travellers to the gloriously green country of Guyana can't miss a day trip to iconic Kaieteur Falls, the largest single-drop waterfall in the world (when measuring by volume of water). There’s plenty more here for nature lovers to be wowed by including giant river otters, more than 900 species of tropical birds, and the species-rich rainforest of Iwokrama Reserve. Incredibly, more than 80% of the country is still covered in rainforest and travel often has to be riverboat or internal flights. Make sure to spend time in Georgetown too: its mixture of British, Dutch and Caribbean heritage make it a melting pot for culture. The arrival of the new flights come at a great time of the year, just as the skies begin to fill with kites for Easter and still with plenty of time for exploring before the fireworks light up Georgetown on Independence Day (26 May).

Virgin Atlantic have added a new long-haul flight from London Heathrow to Male in the Maldives. The service launched in October 2022, and will run three times a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sundays.

The Maldives isn’t a typical Wanderlust destination, but it’s also wrong to assume it’s just for couples. Nature lovers can get lost in the Addu Nature Park, the second biggest wetland on the islands, explore the Baa Atoll Biosphere reserve, and go diving with whale sharks and ancient turtles. There’s also cultural highlights including Utheemu Ganduvaru, the President’s residence and the old mosque, to name a few. Let’s not forget all the wonderful, sustainable accomodation you can find here. What’s for certain, luxury abounds.

This flight previously stopped over in Brussels, but now, UK passengers can get from London Heathrow to Rwanda non-stop. The new direct service by RwandAir started in November 2022 and operates four times a week, flying into Kigali airport.

Rwanda has a recent troubled history, and this has previously put travellers off. Now, there are many fantastic opportunities and experiences on offer for those seeking the road less travelled. The natural environment is what pulls in most people, with luscious rainforests perfect for jungle trekking and seeking out the country’s famous silverback mountain gorillas. There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in local culture too; watch Intore dancers, visit the Genocide memorial, have lunch at the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre in Kigali, and more.

We’re excited about the return of the London Heathrow to Buenos Aires flight on the 26 March 2023. British Airways will be operating the service five times a week, and instead of stopping at São Paulo-Guarulhos in Brazil, it will be flying straight to the vibrant Argentine capital. The non-stop flight was suspended during the pandemic

After winning the world cup, all eyes have been on Argentina, especially its capital Buenos Aires who showed the world how to really celebrate. But beyond the party, there’s plenty of history and culture to uncover. Tour the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s Government House, and explore San Telmo, the oldest neighbourhood in the city, where you will find tango dancers, colonial buildings, antique shops and cosy cafes.  

It’s not easy to get to the Cook Islands, and coronavirus made it even harder, with many of its services permanently cancelled. The majority of visitors now fly from New Zealand, but in 2023, travel opportunities are improving. Hawaiian Airline's weekly direct flight from Honolulu start in May, while Jetstar's bi-weekly flights from Sydney follow shortly after in June. Both services fly into Rarotonga.

There’s so much to love about the Cook Islands. Located in the South Pacific, halfway between New Zealand and Hawaii, more than a dozen islands make up this archipelago. Some islands are more popular with tourists than others, but each one is an unspoilt, crowd-free paradise, where there are no branded resorts to be found. Saying this, modern day luxury and laidback living does exist, but it’s not just for honeymooners. Nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and culture seekers all have a place here, with the friendly Polynesian natives welcoming visitors to experience their beautiful home.

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