United Airlines has confirmed three weekly flights between Valencia and Newark starting in June 2027, restoring a direct air link between Valencia and New York. The move ends a 15-year gap since the last direct service to the US, which Delta Airlines operated from 2009 to 2012. Announced by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, the route puts Valencia among the few Spanish cities with direct transatlantic links and reflects its growing importance as an international travel destination.
The route will use the Airbus A321XLR, an aircraft designed for efficient long-haul travel. With a range of up to 8,700 kilometers, the single-aisle jet can fly transatlantic routes while limiting environmental and noise impacts at the airport. United Airlines’ decision to add Valencia and Ibiza to its expanded network points to the region’s strategic value to the US carrier.
For Valencia, direct flights to New York bring more than a symbolic key stage. They strengthen the city’s position in the North American market, a priority for local tourism authorities. Fundación Visit València says the connection fits a broader strategy to attract higher-value visitors and promote the city year-round. Working with the Generalitat Valenciana’s tourism department, the foundation has stepped up promotion through the Plan América initiative, targeting the US and Canada as well as Mexico to capitalize on growing demand for Mediterranean destinations.
Recent data from the FOCUS tourism intelligence system show that US travelers to Valencia tend to plan trips well in advance, more than 120 days ahead, and spend heavily per day: 80% spend between 150 and 400 euros. New York remains a leading source of online searches for Valencia, alongside East Coast cities including Washington and Boston. The new direct route is expected to further increase these flows and broaden the city’s tourism base.
Local officials have welcomed the development. Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca, president of the Generalitat Valenciana, called the connection a impressive step for the region’s tourism sector and a sign of growing US interest in Valencia. Paula Llobet, city councillor for Tourism, New idea and Investments and president of Fundación Visit València, said the route followed years of coordinated work with Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and Cámara Valencia.
With the New York route, Valencia will, for the first time, offer two direct intercontinental connections to the Americas: New York and Montreal. The route fits a broader expansion of international air links from Spanish regional airports. Direct transatlantic flights are seen as a basic factor in attracting business and investment, while also drawing high-spending tourists. They are often associated with increased economic activity in the host city. As of 2026, Madrid and Barcelona remain Spain’s basic gateways for long-haul travel, while regional hubs such as Valencia increasingly compete for new routes as demand for international connectivity grows.
