Major U.S. airlines are expanding nonstop flights to New York in 2026, opening direct connections from the metro area to dozens of new destinations across Europe and beyond. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines are leading the expansion with inaugural routes launched or announced for the summer season, giving travelers from New York unprecedented access to cities that previously required connections.
United Airlines will operate four new nonstop routes from its Newark/New York hub beginning in summer 2026, according to an October 2025 announcement. The carrier will launch service to Split, Croatia (starting April 30), Bari, Italy (May 1), Glasgow, Scotland (May 8), and Santiago de Compostela, Spain (May 27). United stated it will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop service to Split, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela from the U.S., and the only U.S. carrier with nonstop flights between Newark/New York and Bari.
Delta Air Lines is adding two major European routes from New York’s JFK airport. The carrier will launch nonstop service to Valletta, Malta on June 7, 2026, operating three times per week, and to Olbia, Sardinia on May 20, 2026, with four weekly flights, according to reporting by Condé Nast Traveler. Both routes will operate on Delta’s Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.
American Airlines launched four new nonstop routes in May 2026, expanding its European network from New York and other hubs. The carrier added service from New York’s JFK to Edinburgh, Scotland, alongside new routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, and from Dallas-Fort Worth to Athens and Zurich. American stated it will operate up to 70 daily flights between the U.S. and Europe this summer.
The expansion reflects a broader trend of U.S. carriers investing in transatlantic connectivity. Beyond New York, airlines are adding nonstop service to secondary European cities that have historically been accessible only via connections. This strategy aims to attract leisure and business travelers seeking direct access to emerging destinations. When United launched its historic expansion to Greenland, Senegal, and other remote locations in summer 2025, the inaugural flight to Nuuk, Greenland became the fastest-selling inaugural in United Airlines history, according to the airline’s October 2025 press release, suggesting strong demand for novel routes.
The new routes from New York also reflect competition among carriers to serve the region’s massive travel market. New York City remains one of the world’s busiest international gateways, and airlines see opportunity in offering point-to-point service to destinations that previously required a hub connection. For travelers based in the New York area, the expansion eliminates the need to travel to other hubs to reach European cities, reducing total travel time and offering greater scheduling flexibility.
Sources
- United Airlines — October 9, 2025 announcement of four new nonstop routes from Newark/New York to Split, Bari, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela in summer 2026, and historical performance data on the 2025 expansion
- Condé Nast Traveler — November 15, 2025 article detailing 19 new international flight routes launching from the U.S. in 2026, including Delta’s routes to Malta and Sardinia from JFK
- American Airlines Newsroom — May 21, 2026 announcement of four new nonstop routes to Budapest, Prague, Athens, and Zurich, and details on American’s expanded European network and summer schedule
