Regarding FR "connecting" flights, no this is not a new service! FR still don't officially sell connecting through flights but flight search engines regularly bring such connections up when searching. If you have the time you can find your own routings using the FR app as not all suitable connections come up on Skyscanner etc
However buyer beware. Although often ridiculously cheap they are not official connecting flights (you buy two separate flights) and you will be left high and dry if something goes wrong. Therefore you need to allow a good amount of time between connections so it's not necessarily the fastest routing!
Having said that, this year I've flown BHX - BGY - CTA and AGA - PGF - BHX without any incident and at a very cheap price.
This week I'm flying BHX - MAD - AGA then AGA - DUB - BHX so fingers crossed.....