United Airlines Unveils Four New Transatlantic Destinations for Summer 2026.

ByUjjwal Sukhwani•January 15, 2026 at 12:44 PM•3 min read

AIRLINES

United Airlines announced its Summer 2026 transatlantic schedule, adding four new European destinations—Split, Bari, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela—to meet strong leisure demand.

Key Points

1United Airlines is adding four new transatlantic destinations for Summer 2026: Split (Croatia), Bari (Italy), Glasgow (Scotland), and Santiago de Compostela (Spain).
2The expansion focuses on new leisure markets, utilizing the Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
3The airline will operate service to 46 transatlantic destinations, maintaining its lead as the largest U.S. carrier across the Atlantic.
4The strategy is driven by a reported 30% increase in European travel bookings compared to 2019 figures.

United Airlines recently announced a significant Summer 2026 international expansion.

This move adds four new transatlantic destinations to its global network. The airline is targeting unique, high-demand leisure markets. This strategy reinforces United's position as a US carrier with most flights across the Atlantic. The new schedule will feature service to 46 transatlantic destinations in total.

New Transatlantic Routes and Destinations

The expansion focuses heavily on Southern Europe. New service will begin from United's primary hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, to four new cities.

Key Route Details

Newark (EWR) to Split, Croatia: Service begins April 30, 2026. Flights will operate three times weekly. This route uses the Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.
Newark (EWR) to Bari, Italy: Four weekly flights start May 1, 2026. This is another key route utilizing the Boeing 767-300ER.
Newark (EWR) to Glasgow, Scotland: Daily service commences on May 8, 2026. This route will feature the Boeing 737 MAX 8 service.
Newark (EWR) to Santiago de Compostela, Spain: Three weekly flights begin May 27, 2026. This service also utilizes the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

United is the only U.S. airline to offer nonstop flights to Europe for these four new cities.

Fleet and Capacity Strategy

United's Boeing 767-300ER aircraft will service the longer, high-demand routes. These aircraft offer the premium Polaris business class cabin. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 service will operate on routes like Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela. This deployment allows for efficient use of narrowbody aircraft on transatlantic sectors. The Boeing 737 MAX 8 offers better fuel efficiency for these mid-range flights.

United is also adding another new route. Washington Dulles (IAD) will see daily seasonal service to Reykjavik, Iceland. This flight starts on May 21, 2026.

Industry Impact and Market Trends

This United Airlines transatlantic routes announcement is a direct response to rising leisure travel demand. Bookings to European destinations have shown significant growth. United reported a 30% increase in European bookings compared to 2019. This trend highlights strong consumer interest in new experiences. The airline's global network strategy targets underserved seasonal European destinations.

Aviation stakeholders must monitor this growth. The expansion impacts airport slot usage and competition. It also affects pricing on existing routes. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) tracks these capacity shifts. Maintaining operational reliability will be a key challenge for the airline. The use of new aircraft types requires careful regulatory oversight from bodies like EASA.

United’s goal is to offer the most diverse international network. This move solidifies its leadership in the transatlantic market. For more commercial aviation news, visit the flying.flights website.