Travel + Remote-Work Briefing — October 27, 2026

Today's three stories are all about the route rather than the destination. A new nonstop removes a connection, a reopened airspace changes the path a long-haul flight takes, and a car-free street reshapes how you cross central London. In each case the practical move is the same: check how your specific trip actually runs now instead of assuming it works the way it did last season.

Which new US cities get nonstop flights to Mexico City?

Orange County, Fort Lauderdale and Portland, Oregon. Aeromexico plans daily nonstops from Mexico City (MEX) starting in January 2027, The Points Guy reported: John Wayne Airport in Orange County on Jan. 11, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood on Jan. 14 and Portland on Jan. 21, all on a 166-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8. Cirium schedule data shows no airline currently flies any of the three from MEX. The move follows Mexico's statement on Oct. 16 that the US Department of Transportation had lifted limits on new flights from Mexico City's two airports, Airways Magazine reported. Aeromexico is a Delta joint-venture partner, so SkyMiles members can earn and redeem on these flights. The Points Guy also notes that the US could downgrade Mexico's aviation safety rating to Category 2 as soon as February 2027. That would bar Mexican airlines from adding new US flights, though existing schedules could continue.

Why it matters for nomads: If you split time between Mexico City and Southern California, the Pacific Northwest or South Florida, these routes cut out a connection. With no nonstop competition, don't expect rock-bottom fares. Wait until tickets and fares are published before planning around them. Our Mexico City nomad guide covers neighborhoods, costs and visa basics.

Are Taiwanese airlines flying over Russia again?

Yes, apparently since the IATA winter season began on Oct. 25, 2026, according to One Mile at a Time. The blog cites a reader report that China Airlines CI75 from Taipei to Rome flew almost entirely over Russia on the night of Oct. 24, after previously routing over India, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration had voluntarily kept its airlines out of Russian airspace, and Russia never formally banned them. That restriction appears to have been lifted. A second, unconfirmed theory is that Pakistan barred Taiwanese airlines as of Oct. 25. The blog found no official notice but calls the explanation plausible. Because Taiwanese carriers cannot overfly mainland China, Europe flights that avoid Russia now pass over the Middle East near the Strait of Hormuz. A northern routing could potentially shave an hour or so off the trip, the blog says. It expects most US routes to keep avoiding Russia, since US carriers cannot codeshare on flights that use Russian airspace.

Why it matters for nomads: Taipei-to-Europe flights may now take a northern route or a southern one near the Gulf. Check the routing for your specific flight on a flight tracker before you book, and if flying over Russia or near conflict zones matters to you, compare airlines on the same city pair.

What changes now that London's Oxford Street is car-free?

Buses, taxis and bikes no longer run along it, but you can still reach it. Nearly a kilometre of Oxford Street, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, closed to cars, buses and bicycles on Oct. 26, Euronews reported. Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC, "This is a momentous day for London, a momentous day for Oxford Street." The closed section also excludes taxis, private hire vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters, according to Zag Daily. North-south roads still cross it, and buses are diverted to new stops on Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Cavendish Place. Route 98 is forecast to add up to five minutes at peak. The street draws about half a million visitors a day, and further work on trees, seating and two new public squares begins in the new year.

Why it matters for nomads: If your coworking space or flat is nearby, check your bus route against the new stops. Cyclists and e-scooter riders need alternative streets. The Elizabeth Line still stops on Oxford Street. With Christmas crowds coming, early mornings and midweek are likely the calmest times to visit.

What to watch

• Whether Aeromexico's three routes open for booking at competitive fares, and how the February 2027 safety-rating review lands.
• An official notice from Taiwan's aviation authority or from Pakistan explaining the routing change.
• Further bus and stop changes on Oxford Street as the new-year works begin.