Lifestyle

United Just Added Four Europe Routes. Here’s What Changed for Summer Travel.

By Mike Harper · May 2, 2026

If you have been planning a European summer trip and putting off booking because of the connection hassle, four routes that launched this week just changed the math.

United Airlines kicked off its summer 2026 schedule Thursday with the first-ever nonstop flight from the United States to Split, Croatia — three times a week from Newark Liberty International Airport. The flight departed Thursday for the Dalmatian Coast, a stretch of the Adriatic known for its walled medieval cities, island-hopping, and some of the clearest water in Europe. Until this week, getting there from the U.S. required a connection through Frankfurt, London, or Amsterdam. That connection is now gone.

Three more routes follow in rapid succession:

Bari, Italy — Four flights a week from Newark to the gateway city of Italy’s Puglia region begin Friday, May 1. Puglia — the heel of the Italian boot — has become one of the most in-demand alternatives to the overcrowded Amalfi Coast, with trulli stone houses, cave churches, fresh burrata at the source, and coastline that remains quieter than anything further north. United is the only U.S. airline serving Bari.

Glasgow, Scotland — Daily nonstop from Newark begins Thursday, May 8. Scotland’s largest city has been steadily building its reputation as a destination in its own right — contemporary art scene, live music venues, Victorian architecture, and a direct train to the Highlands for day trips. United is the only U.S. carrier flying this route nonstop.

Santiago de Compostela, Spain — Three flights a week from Newark starting Wednesday, May 27. The final destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage has attracted millions of walkers for centuries. United’s new route makes it the first-ever nonstop connection between the U.S. and the city, removing a painful connection through Madrid that had previously been the only option.

All four routes operate from Newark Liberty International Airport. The Split and Bari flights use Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with lie-flat business class seats in the Polaris cabin. Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela use the 737 MAX 8, which has a standard economy and premium economy configuration.

Tickets for all four routes are available now at united.com and the United app. Across its full summer 2026 schedule, United will operate up to 210 daily nonstop flights between the U.S. and 36 European destinations — 14 of which are not served by any other American carrier.

For travelers who have been looking at Europe but defaulting to Paris, Rome, or London because they were the easiest flights to book, this week’s launch is worth revisiting. Croatia, Puglia, Glasgow, and the Camino are not backup options. They are among the most distinctive destinations on the continent — and they just became significantly easier to reach.