Nothing makes the world feel smaller than an airplane.  

And every time a new nonstop international flight route is announced, exploring the world becomes a little bit easier.  

This is why it’s so exciting that United Airlines has announced the largest international expansion in its history.  

Next summer, United Airlines will fly to more destinations across the Atlantic than any other U.S. airline.

That means more than 760 flights a week to over 40 different destinations.  

And 5 of these flights will be brand new nonstop international routes that no other U.S. airline currently flies to.  

5 New International Routes From United Airlines  

The 5 new international routes from United Airlines will launch in May 2025.  

They will all depart from the United Airlines hub in Newark/New York (so this is particularly interesting news for New Yorkers).  

A United Airlines plane taking off

Those new routes will be to: Nuuk in Greenland, Palermo in Italy, Bilbao in Spain, Madeira Island in Portugal and Faro in Portugal.  

By their own metrics, these new flights will make United Airlines the largest airline in the world.  

Nuuk, Greenland 

Nuuk is the capital city of Greenland and United Airlines will fly to the city twice weekly from June 14 next year. 

Nuuk is the northernmost capital city in the world and is home to the midnight sun in the summertime.

This makes it a wonderfully unique place to visit in Europe in the summer and a contrast to the crowds and beaches of other European hot spots.  

Colorful houses in Nuuk, Greenland

The nonstop flight from Newark to Nuuk will be just over 4 hours long, making it a convenient and incredibly accessible journey.  

Price information for this flight route isn’t currently available.  

Palermo, Italy 

Palermo will be one of 5 destinations in Italy that United Airlines will fly to nonstop next summer.

But Palermo is the only one of these that is a United exclusive route at this point.  

This route will launch on May 21 and will be a 3 times weekly seasonal nonstop service.  

colorful streets of palermo italy

Palermo is the most popular destination in Sicily and will open up this iconic island to a whole new American audience. This new route will put Sicily’s rich history, luxurious beaches and stunning architecture at your fingertips.  

Return flights from June 20 to June 26 on this route are currently priced at $1,889 for the most restrictive, basic economy ticket.  

Bilbao, Spain 

Nonstop flights from Newark to Bilbao in Spain will launch on May 31 2024.  

A nonstop round trip flight from June 12 to June 18 on this route is currently priced at $1,027 for the most restrictive basis economy ticket.

The outbound flight has a flight time of 7 hours 30 minutes.  

guggenheim museum in bilbao spain

Bilbao is the heart of Spain’s Basque country and an important cultural hub. One of my favorite attractions is the iconic Guggenheim Museum, and for watersports enthusiasts, the surf is epic here, too.

This isn’t the only exclusive United flight to Spain. United is also the only U.S. carrier to fly direct to Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, and Malaga.  

Madeira Island, Portugal 

United will launch the only nonstop service from the U.S. to Madeira. This flight will start on June 7 and will operate 3 times a week.  

Ponta De Sao Lourenco In Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is a stunningly beautiful island. It boasts everything a nature lover could dream of: natural pools and waterfalls, incredible beaches, and lush verdant mountains.  

Price information for this route hasn’t been released yet.  

Faro, Portugal  

United will also be the only U.S. airline serving Faro in Portugal. This flight route will start on May 16 and will fly 4 times each week.  

This means that United will have the only nonstop routes to Faro, Madeira, Porto, and Ponta Delgada, making it the most wide-reaching U.S. airline for Portuguese flights.  

aerial shot of the city of faro in portugal

Flying from June 11 to June 17 on this route will cost $1,578 if you choose the cheapest and most restrictive fare.  

Faro is a beautiful city with a charming old town and easy access to pretty beaches, giving travelers the best of both worlds in one easily accessible package.  

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