United Expands Summer 2026 Flights With New Direct Routes to Europe

United Airlines is launching a series of new transatlantic routes for summer 2026, expanding its network between the United States and Europe. New nonstop flights from Newark/New York will connect to Split, Bari, Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela, with services starting between late April and late May. The airline is also introducing a Washington–Reykjavik route as part of the seasonal schedule.

New Routes and Frequencies

• Split – three weekly flights from Newark/New York starting 30 April
• Bari – four weekly flights from Newark/New York starting 1 May
• Glasgow – daily flights from Newark/New York from 8 May
• Santiago de Compostela – three weekly flights from Newark/New York from 27 May
• Reykjavik – daily flights from Washington Dulles from 21 May

United plans up to 770 weekly transatlantic flights during the summer season, with as many as 210 flights per day at peak times. The airline will serve 36 European destinations, including Greenland, with 14 routes not offered by other US carriers. Services introduced in 2025, such as Faro, Madeira, Palermo, Bilbao and Nuuk, will also return for the 2026 summer schedule.

The expanded network opens direct access to places that are often reached via connections. Coastal destinations like Split and Bari become easier to reach without transfers, while cities such as Santiago de Compostela and Glasgow are linked directly with the US. Returning routes also improve access to locations including Madeira, Faro and Bilbao, which have gained attention for cultural and seaside travel.

These additions change how some trips are put together. Places like Split or Bari no longer require a stop along the way, which cuts out an extra leg of the journey. It also opens up options for shorter stays, where time matters more. These routes cut out the stop on journeys that used to require a connection, so those destinations are easier to include in a trip.