American Airlines is preparing a sweeping network expansion for summer 2026 that will add up to 15 new or newly resumed destinations, putting it in step with a broader surge in transatlantic and Mediterranean growth led by United Airlines, easyJet and Jetstar.

While exact schedules are still being finalized, the broad contours of this capacity push are already clear: more seats into France and Spain, new secondary and regional gateways, and a sharper focus on leisure travelers headed for Europe’s sun belts and heritage cities.

For tourism officials and hotel groups across France, Spain and the wider Mediterranean, the combined effect is expected to be a meaningful boost in visitor numbers, length of stay and investment pipeline over the next three to five years.

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Coordinated Expansion Across Carriers Sets Up a Busy Summer 2026

The 2026 schedules emerging from major carriers show a common pattern: airlines are rapidly pivoting more capacity into high-demand leisure destinations in Southern and Western Europe, where travel demand has remained resilient despite economic headwinds. United Airlines has already confirmed an aggressive 2026 build-out, adding new nonstop service from its Newark hub to Split in Croatia, Bari in southern Italy, Glasgow in Scotland and Santiago de Compostela in Spain, along with additional transatlantic frequencies and new links such as Washington Dulles to Reykjavik. This brings United’s transatlantic portfolio to 46 destinations, the most of any U.S. airline, and signals strong confidence in sustained U.S.–Europe demand.

American Airlines, which in recent seasons has balanced seasonal cuts with targeted growth, is expected to follow the same leisure-first logic as it rebuilds and adds routes into 2026, particularly to France and Spain. Analysts point to American’s existing strength in Madrid and Barcelona, as well as its partnership with Iberia, as a platform for secondary Spanish destinations, while its Paris Charles de Gaulle network and codeshares with European partners offer similar potential in France. Industry sources indicate that American is examining both restored routes and entirely new city pairs, with an emphasis on mid-sized U.S. gateways feeding sun-oriented European cities.

On the European side, low-cost carrier easyJet is already adding four new routes for summer 2026, including a new connection from Bristol to Reus on Spain’s Costa Dorada and expanded operations from Birmingham and Edinburgh. Meanwhile, leisure specialist Jetstar is continuing its own long-haul and regional expansion strategy, targeting value-conscious travelers seeking flexible, low-fare access to European holiday markets. Coupled with new capacity from other carriers, the result is a crowded but lucrative battlefield for summer leisure traffic.

Across the Atlantic, airports, tourism boards and hotel groups are planning for a scenario in which 2026 could set new records for American visitors to Mediterranean Europe, driven by both the sheer number of additional seats and the diversification of gateway cities on both sides of the ocean.

France Stands to Gain From New Gateways and Longer Stays

France remains one of the top European markets for U.S. travelers, and additional services from American and its competitors are expected to deepen that position in 2026. Paris will continue to anchor demand, with more nonstops into Charles de Gaulle from multiple U.S. hubs, but growth is likely to spill into secondary French cities as airlines spread risk and tap into less saturated markets. Carriers have already demonstrated that seasonal links to southern France can perform strongly when scheduled around peak holiday periods, and the new round of capacity planning suggests greater focus on coastal areas and wine regions.

Airport authorities in regional French cities are lobbying for additional North American connectivity, either through direct flights or one-stop itineraries integrated into alliances. American’s membership in the Oneworld alliance, combined with United’s Star Alliance presence and the aggressive European footprint of low-cost carriers, creates more options for multi-stop itineraries that include smaller French destinations beyond Paris. This is particularly relevant for regions such as Occitanie, Provence and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, where tourism bodies have been actively courting high-spend American visitors interested in food, wine and rural or coastal stays.

Tourism economists expect that improved air connectivity will translate not only into more visitors, but into longer average stays in France. Travelers who can conveniently fly into one city and out of another are more likely to plan extended multi-region itineraries, combining Paris with a secondary city in the south or southwest. This has important implications for hotels and short-term rentals outside the capital, where seasonality has historically been intense and room rates more volatile.

French hospitality stakeholders are already responding. Boutique hotel groups are accelerating renovation projects in coastal and wine regions, while major chains are expanding their soft brands to capture independent hotels seeking distribution and loyalty-program reach. With 2026 capacity rising, many of these properties are banking on robust transatlantic demand to justify higher average daily rates and year-round staffing levels.

Spain Emerges as a Star of the 2026 Transatlantic Season

Spain is set to be one of the biggest winners from the wave of new capacity planned for 2026. United’s decision to add Santiago de Compostela to its Newark network puts a spotlight on the country’s northwest, where the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route already draws large numbers of international visitors. The new nonstop service from the United States gives the historic Galician city an unprecedented level of visibility among U.S. travelers, and tourism officials there are preparing for a marked increase in long-haul arrivals during the 2026 peak season.

Beyond Santiago, United will continue serving Spanish destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao, and remains the only U.S. airline with direct connections to several of these coastal and island airports. In parallel, easyJet’s new Bristol to Reus route will funnel more British and European travelers into Catalonia’s coastal resorts, while other low-cost players are vying for share on links to the Balearic and Canary Islands, Andalusia and Valencia. For American Airlines, which has long-standing transatlantic links into Madrid and Barcelona and a close relationship with Iberia, the competitive landscape points toward deeper forays into secondary Spanish markets as part of its 2026 expansion.

Spanish tourism authorities are leaning into this trend by ramping up joint marketing campaigns in the United States and Northern Europe. Regions such as Galicia, Asturias and parts of inland Spain have traditionally seen fewer long-haul visitors than the big coastal hotspots, but the promise of new direct and one-stop connections is encouraging these destinations to promote cultural tourism, gastronomy, religious heritage and nature-based experiences tailored to high-value international travelers. Working with airlines and tour operators, they are designing packages that link major gateway cities with lesser-known regions, often using improved rail links to complete the last leg.

For the Spanish hotel sector, the combination of new flights and ambitious regional marketing is expected to help smooth seasonality and drive new investment. Several Spanish chains have indicated interest in opening or converting properties in cities freshly connected to transatlantic services, while international brands are scouting for franchise opportunities. With competition intensifying in traditional resort zones, investors see opportunities in cultural cities and secondary coastal areas that are only now gaining direct access to overseas markets.

Hospitality Industry Braces for Higher Demand and Shifting Traveler Behavior

The combined expansion from American Airlines, United, easyJet and Jetstar is likely to have a pronounced impact on hotels, resorts and short-term rentals across France and Spain, especially during the peak months of summer 2026. More flight options and more competitive pricing tend to pull forward bookings and encourage travelers to trade up in terms of accommodation, particularly when they can save on airfare. Industry analysts say this is already visible in booking trends for 2025 and early 2026, with higher-end and lifestyle hotels securing a larger share of early reservations from U.S. and UK markets.

Hotel revenue managers are closely tracking airline announcements as they calibrate pricing strategies for 2026. New nonstop flights, especially from the United States to secondary European cities, often lead to short bursts of booking activity when routes go on sale, followed by a more sustained rise in demand as consumer awareness spreads. Properties in cities set to receive new services, such as those in northern Spain or less familiar French coastal towns, are adjusting their rate fences and inventory allocations to capitalize on this influx while guarding against overdependence on any single airline or source market.

At the same time, the hospitality sector expects traveler behavior to continue evolving. The post-pandemic shift toward combining leisure and remote work has not disappeared, and additional connectivity makes it easier for visitors to spend longer periods in one destination or to string together multi-country itineraries. Hotel groups in France and Spain are responding by promoting longer-stay offers, integrating co-working facilities into public spaces, and partnering with airlines and rail operators to offer bundled products that appeal to flexible travelers.

The growth in low-cost and hybrid carriers such as easyJet and Jetstar also has consequences for accommodation mix. By lowering the cost of getting to a destination, these airlines free up more discretionary budget for hotels, dining and activities, which can benefit midscale and upscale properties. However, they also attract ultra-budget travelers who may favor hostels, camping or peer-to-peer rentals, adding another layer of complexity to demand patterns in popular regions.

Regional Airports and Smaller Cities Position Themselves as New Gateways

One of the defining features of the 2026 capacity build-out is the elevation of smaller European cities to the status of international gateways. United’s plans for Split, Bari, Glasgow and Santiago de Compostela show how carriers are moving beyond traditional capitals to capture niche demand and reduce congestion at major hubs. This same strategy is expected to influence American’s route choices as it looks at up to 15 new or returning destinations, particularly in France and Spain where medium-sized airports offer attractive incentives and uncongested airspace.

For regional airports in both countries, the prospect of new long-haul or high-frequency short-haul services is transformative. Airport operators are investing in terminal upgrades, improved ground transport links and expanded lounge facilities in anticipation of more international arrivals. Local authorities are often active partners, using route-development funds, marketing support and infrastructure spending to make their airports more appealing to airlines planning 2026 schedules.

Smaller cities that gain direct or easier access from North America and other long-haul markets are already reporting heightened interest from hotel developers. In northern Spain, for example, the announcement of new transatlantic flights has prompted feasibility studies for additional rooms in historic centers and near key transport hubs. In France, cities along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts are exploring public-private partnerships to catalyze hotel construction that can absorb peak-season demand without overwhelming existing urban fabric.

This decentralization of air service also has important implications for visitor dispersion. Instead of funnelling all arrivals through Paris, Madrid or Barcelona, the next wave of routes will allow travelers to arrive closer to their final destinations, reducing domestic transfer time and encouraging exploration of nearby regions. Tourism boards across France and Spain see this as a way to ease pressure on overcrowded hotspots while distributing economic benefits more evenly.

Airlines, Tour Operators and Hotels Deepen Their Commercial Ties

As the 2026 expansion gathers pace, airlines and hospitality companies are tightening their commercial relationships to capture more value from each additional seat. American Airlines and United are both leaning on joint ventures and alliance partnerships with European carriers to sell integrated itineraries that include onward connections within France and Spain. In turn, easyJet and Jetstar are enhancing their relationships with tour operators and hotel wholesalers, particularly in the package-holiday segment where air and land components are sold together.

Hotel companies view these partnerships as essential tools for filling rooms in shoulder seasons and spreading demand beyond a handful of flagship properties. Many chains now maintain dedicated airline sales teams that negotiate preferred-rate agreements tied to specific routes or capacity increases. When an airline announces a new nonstop into a secondary city, it is increasingly common for tourism boards and hotel groups in that destination to launch joint campaigns in the origin market, highlighting themed itineraries, limited-time packages and loyalty-program benefits.

These collaborations often extend into data sharing. Airlines can provide anonymized insights into booking windows, passenger origin markets and trip durations, while hotels contribute information about on-the-ground spending and stay patterns. Combined, this intelligence helps both sides refine pricing, marketing and product design ahead of the 2026 high season. For destinations in France and Spain competing for the same pool of long-haul visitors, the quality and speed of these partnerships can become a competitive differentiator.

Tour operators and online travel agencies are also adjusting their offerings in light of the new routes. With more nonstop and one-stop combinations on the table, they can create more diverse itineraries that link, for example, a Camino de Santiago trek with a wine-focused stay in Bordeaux, or a beach holiday on Spain’s Costa Dorada with a city break in Paris. These kinds of multi-region packages are expected to become more prominent in 2026 as capacity and connectivity make complex trips easier to book and price.

Opportunities and Pressures for Sustainability and Workforce Planning

The surge in flights and visitor numbers projected for 2026 brings opportunities but also challenges for France, Spain and their hospitality sectors. Destinations that struggled with overtourism before the pandemic are wary of simply returning to peak pre-2020 conditions without safeguards. As new routes are announced, many local and national authorities are working to align air connectivity growth with sustainability targets, investing in public transport, crowd-management tools and regulations on short-term rentals.

For hotels and other tourism businesses, one of the most pressing issues associated with the 2026 expansion is workforce planning. Higher occupancy rates and longer operating seasons require more staff in roles ranging from front office to housekeeping, food and beverage and revenue management. In tight labor markets, particularly in coastal resort areas, hoteliers in France and Spain are exploring strategies such as staff housing, cross-training and international recruitment to ensure they can deliver consistent service levels despite rising guest numbers.

At the same time, airlines themselves are under pressure to demonstrate progress on decarbonization as they add capacity. While consumers continue to fly in large numbers, especially on leisure routes, there is growing public scrutiny of aviation’s climate impact. Carriers including American, United and easyJet have all made public commitments to improved fuel efficiency and investments in newer aircraft types. The challenge in 2026 will be convincing increasingly climate-conscious travelers that growth in connectivity can coexist with credible steps toward lower emissions.

How these dynamics play out over the next two years will shape not only airline route maps but also the development trajectory of France’s and Spain’s tourism economies. For now, the message from carriers, airports and hoteliers is one of optimism: by summer 2026, more Americans than ever are expected to have nonstops or easy one-stop links to an expanding array of French and Spanish destinations, and the hospitality industry on both sides of the Atlantic is racing to be ready.