‍CHICAGO — United Airlines (UA) has announced plans to launch new nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) to several European cities for the summer 2026 season, adding destinations in Croatia, Italy, Scotland, and Spain. The new routes are part of the carrier’s continued effort to widen its transatlantic network from the U.S. East Coast.

Expanding the Map

Starting next year, UA will begin flying to Split (SPU) in Croatia, Bari (BRI) in Italy, Glasgow (GLA) in Scotland, and Santiago de Compostela (SCQ) in Spain. According to the airline, these flights will make United the only U.S. carrier offering direct service to these cities from the New York area.

The service to Split will begin April 30, operating three times weekly on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Bari flights will start May 1, operating four times weekly on the same aircraft type. Daily flights to Glasgow will begin May 8 using a Boeing 737-8, while service to Santiago de Compostela will start May 22, also on a 737-8, operating three times a week.

It’s not the first time UA has stretched deeper into Europe, but this round of additions feels more leisure-focused than before. Rather than major capitals like Paris or Frankfurt, these new destinations lean toward vacation markets, smaller cities, and regions with strong summer tourism appeal.

A Calculated Move

United’s expansion hints at its confidence in sustained travel demand between the U.S. and Europe. Even with competition heating up and fuel costs remaining unpredictable, the airline appears to be taking a long-term view—betting that travelers will keep seeking out new places beyond the traditional routes.

Still, it’s not a risk-free play. Routes like Split and Bari are highly seasonal, meaning load factors can swing sharply after summer peaks. Also, with airlines like Delta, American, and several European carriers all pushing new routes around the same time, United will have to maintain competitive pricing and frequency to hold interest.

What Travelers Can Expect

The airline says the new routes will operate during the summer of 2026, following their debut schedule from 2025. United will deploy Boeing 767-300ERs and 737 MAX 8s, all equipped with Polaris business class and Premium Plus cabins on most of the new services, keeping its product lineup consistent across long-haul routes.

For passengers, the additions mean fewer stopovers when heading to Southern or Eastern Europe. Americans traveling to the Dalmatian coast or northern Spain will have a smoother option compared to the usual connections through London or Frankfurt.

United’s European Strategy

Over the past few years, UA has steadily built itself into one of the most connected U.S. airlines across the Atlantic. It already flies to over 30 destinations in Europe, and the new cities push that count even higher. In recent seasons, it’s added routes like Amman, Malaga, and Tenerife—again, destinations chosen for tourism rather than business traffic.

The strategy is working for now. Demand for transatlantic travel has stayed strong through 2024 and into 2025, with U.S. airlines seeing record summer numbers. United’s leadership appears to be capitalizing on that momentum before market conditions shift.

Looking Ahead

Despite the optimism, these new routes will test how well UA can manage network flexibility. If bookings fall short or if next year’s summer rush cools, some of these destinations could end up being seasonal-only operations. That’s not unusual, but it highlights how competitive and sensitive the long-haul market remains.

For now, the airline seems content taking a few bold swings. And for travelers who’ve been dreaming of Italy’s Adriatic coast or Scotland’s rugged landscapes, the new routes might just make those plans a little easier to reach.

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