United Airlines launched twice-daily flights to Asheville from Washington Dulles on 14 February, with the former of the two airports baking this exceptional cake to mark the new service, highlighting the many opportunities that passengers have for travel via the airline’s US capital hub. No other airline links the two airports at this time.

• United Airlines launched two new regional routes from Washington Dulles (IAD) on 14 February, with it offering twice-daily services to Asheville (AVL) in North Carolina and Lexington (LEX) in Kentucky. The Star Alliance member will operate both the 594- and 629-kilometre sectors using its fleet of 50-seat CRJ 200s, which are operated by Air Wisconsin. Neither route will face direct competition. “Our community has asked for the addition of a daily non-stop route to Washington for many years,” said Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority, about its connection to the US capital. “From Dulles Airport, travellers can connect to destinations around the globe. This route also makes Asheville more accessible to domestic and international travellers, opening the region to more opportunities for business, tourism and convention air travel.”