United adds four Europe routes for summer 2026

Published on Oct 9, 2025, 10:06 am CDT

5 min read

United Airlines will expand its transatlantic schedule next summer with four new European routes from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR): Split, Bari, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela. The carrier will also launch daily Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Keflavík International Airport (KEF), add Newark to Incheon International Airport (ICN), and increase Newark to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) service. United said all four 2025 debut destinations will return in 2026 as well.

Key points

Why it matters: More nonstop options and thinner-market access bolster United's transatlantic schedule.
Travel impact: New service enables one-stop connections from dozens of U.S. cities to Southern Europe and Scotland.
What's next: Tickets are on sale; seasonal starts run from April 30 to May 22, with Newark-Seoul on September 4.
Newark-Split and Newark-Bari use 767-300ERs; Newark-Glasgow and Newark-Santiago use 737-8s.
United adds IAD-Reykjavik on 757-200s and a third Newark-Tel Aviv frequency on 787-9s.

Snapshot

Starting April 30, United will fly three times weekly between Newark and Split Airport (SPU) on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. Newark to Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI) follows on May 1, four times weekly, also on 767-300ERs. Daily Newark to Glasgow Airport (GLA) begins May 8 on Boeing 737-8 aircraft, and three-times-weekly Newark to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) starts May 22, also on 737-8s. Beyond Europe, daily Washington Dulles to Keflavík International Airport (KEF) starts May 21 on Boeing 757-200s, and daily Newark to Incheon International Airport (ICN) launches September 4 on Boeing 787-9s. United will also add a third Newark-Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) frequency from March 28 on 787-9s. The airline confirmed that all nine destinations from its 2025 expansion will return in 2026. Tickets are available now.

Background

United's transatlantic strategy centers on Newark as the primary gateway, adding niche leisure markets alongside established hubs. In 2025, United introduced seasonal service to Greenland, Palermo, Bilbao, and more; those routes will resume in 2026 on staggered start dates. The summer 2026 push positions the airline with service to 46 cities across the Atlantic, supported by a mix of widebodies and high-capability narrowbodies like the 737-8 for thinner markets. The IAD-Reykjavik launch expands United's Iceland footprint beyond Chicago and Newark, while the new Newark-Seoul flight complements twice-daily San Francisco-Seoul service. Operationally, travelers should still watch for ATC-related initiatives and ground-delay programs during busy summer peaks; our daily Flight Delays and Airport Impacts tracker can help. For United flyers, recent digital upgrades like the Apple Wallet boarding pass refresh improve day-of-travel flow.

Latest developments

New European routes headline United's transatlantic schedule

United's four new European routes from Newark target coastal and cultural draws with strong summer demand and diaspora traffic. Split unlocks Croatia's Dalmatian coast with three weekly 767-300ER flights from April 30. Bari opens Puglia with four weekly 767-300ER flights from May 1. Daily 737-8 service to Glasgow begins May 8, giving Scotland a second nonstop option alongside Edinburgh. Three weekly 737-8 flights to Santiago de Compostela start May 22, marking the first regularly scheduled U.S. nonstop to Galicia's capital and a direct gateway for Camino de Santiago pilgrims. Outside Europe, daily IAD-KEF on 757-200 starts May 21, Newark-ICN daily on 787-9 starts September 4, and a third Newark-TLV frequency begins March 28 on 787-9. United says all nine routes from its record 2025 expansion will return on set dates in 2026, with several starting earlier than last year.

Analysis

United's summer 2026 schedule doubles down on "unique city" leadership while balancing fleet and slot constraints at Newark. The 767-300ER remains the workhorse for mid-gauge Mediterranean routes where premium demand and cargo still justify a widebody. Deploying the 737-8 to Glasgow and Santiago underscores how new-gen narrowbodies now profitably link secondary European cities to the U.S., a trend competitors will likely emulate. Strategically, IAD-Reykjavik gives Washington-area travelers a one-carrier Iceland option with lie-flat business on the 757-200, reinforcing United's Dulles hub gains since 2019. Newark-Seoul expands connectivity to Northeast Asia ahead of additional 787-9 deliveries, complementing SFO's Korea hub flows and Star Alliance partner links. Restoring all 2025 additions signals confidence in transatlantic yield even amid variable fuel prices and ATC staffing pressures. Travelers should expect strong award-seat competition on the new routes at launch, but the mix of frequencies and aircraft types suggests steady capacity that could ease redemption later in the season.

Final thoughts

For travelers planning next summer, the United summer 2026 routes broaden nonstop choices from the New York area and Washington, especially to leisure-heavy Mediterranean and pilgrimage markets. Expect strong demand early, with ancillary value in checked-bag and seat-selection bundles on long narrowbody flights. If you are eyeing Split, Bari, Glasgow, or Santiago, consider booking sooner to lock in shoulder-season pricing, and monitor IAD-Reykjavik for Northern Lights shoulder windows. With Newark-Seoul and the return of the airline's 2025 additions, United's transatlantic schedule should offer more ways to build creative one-stop itineraries across Europe and beyond using Star Alliance partners, making the most of the United summer 2026 routes.