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American travelers planning Europe trips for 2025 and 2026 will find a growing list of new nonstop routes from U.S. cities, opening easier access to both classic capitals and lesser-known coastal and cultural hubs.
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United Targets Secondary European Cities With New Nonstops
Publicly available schedules show United Airlines continuing an aggressive push into Europe with new nonstop routes from Newark Liberty International Airport to four secondary cities for summer 2026: Split in Croatia, Bari in southern Italy, Glasgow in Scotland, and Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Reports indicate these destinations will be served several times weekly beginning in late April and May 2026, giving U.S. travelers direct access to regions that once required at least one connection.
Travel industry coverage notes that these cities were chosen for their blend of tourism appeal and pent-up demand. Split offers a gateway to Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast and nearby islands, Bari connects travelers with the beaches and hill towns of Puglia, Glasgow adds a new Scottish cultural center beyond Edinburgh, and Santiago de Compostela anchors one of Europe’s most famous pilgrimage routes. The new services are structured as summer seasonal routes to capture peak vacation demand from the United States.
Analysts point out that by focusing on medium-sized European airports outside the traditional capitals, U.S. carriers can tap growing interest in “second city” and regional travel. For American travelers, the practical impact is shorter overall journey times, fewer tight connections through crowded hubs, and opportunities to start or end itineraries directly in coastal or countryside areas instead of doubling back from major capitals.
American Airlines Builds a Denser Network to Southern Europe
American Airlines is also expanding its transatlantic footprint, particularly to sun and culture destinations around the Mediterranean. Industry reports covering the carrier’s recent schedule announcements highlight new or expanded seasonal services from key U.S. gateways to Italian and Spanish cities for 2025 and 2026, including links from Chicago to Naples and additional connectivity to leisure markets in Spain and Greece.
According to published coverage, American’s strategy centers on offering more direct choices from multiple U.S. hubs, rather than channeling Europe-bound travelers primarily through one or two coastal airports. For example, adding Naples to the network gives Midwestern travelers a nonstop option to southern Italy, while strengthened service to Spanish cities supports demand for beach holidays and city breaks without backtracking through larger hubs.
For passengers, the benefit is a more straightforward planning process. Instead of stitching together separate tickets or relying on regional European carriers to reach coastal cities, many travelers will be able to book single-itinerary, one-stop or nonstop journeys entirely on a U.S. airline. This approach also supports multi-city trips, such as arriving in one Mediterranean destination and departing from another, using larger hub cities like Rome, Madrid, or Athens as connecting points.
Alaska Airlines Enters the Transatlantic Market via Rome
The 2026 season will also mark a milestone for Alaska Airlines, which is preparing to cross the Atlantic for the first time. Recent travel and business coverage details a new nonstop route between Seattle and Rome, scheduled to begin in late spring 2026 as a summer seasonal service operating several times per week. The flight will be the carrier’s first direct link from the U.S. West Coast to Europe.
Observers describe the move as significant for travelers across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska Airlines’ broader network, which includes extensive domestic and regional connections. By adding Rome as a long-haul destination, the airline effectively turns Seattle into a launchpad for European travel, allowing passengers from cities across the western United States to connect onto a single overnight flight to Italy.
For leisure travelers, the route simplifies access to Italy’s capital and onward rail links across the country, from Tuscany and Umbria to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily. For business and visiting-friends-and-relatives travel, the nonstop flight cuts hours from itineraries that previously required connections through East Coast hubs or European gateways, reducing the risk of missed flights and baggage delays along the way.
Smaller European Gateways Gain New Visibility
Beyond the new routes announced from major U.S. hubs, several smaller or regional European airports are gaining fresh visibility with nonstop services from the United States. Coverage of recent route launches points to examples such as Bilbao in northern Spain, which has secured ongoing seasonal flights from Newark, and other mid-sized cities that are being added to U.S. airlines’ summer schedules after strong initial performance.
These airports often serve regions that have traditionally attracted European travelers but were more complicated for Americans to reach. Direct flights shorten total travel times and can make it easier to build itineraries that focus on a single region, such as northern Spain’s food and wine routes, the Scottish Lowlands, or the coastal villages of southern Italy. For local tourism boards and hospitality businesses, a nonstop U.S. link can translate into more predictable seasonal demand and higher international visibility.
Travel advisers note that flying directly into a regional airport can sometimes reduce crowding at the beginning and end of a trip. Instead of arriving in a major hub at peak times, travelers may encounter shorter lines, faster baggage claim, and easier transfers to rental cars or regional trains, especially during the busiest summer months.
What New Nonstops Mean for Prices and Planning
With more nonstop options in the market, competition on transatlantic routes is expected to remain strong heading into the 2025 and 2026 summer seasons. While airfare trends are influenced by fuel prices, capacity decisions, and broader economic conditions, industry observers suggest that added seats to high-demand destinations can help moderate price spikes, especially outside the busiest departure days.
Travel experts advise that the new routes may change the calculus on when and where to search for flights. Instead of defaulting to traditional gateway cities, travelers are encouraged to look at origin and destination pairs that were not possible even a few years ago, such as Seattle to Rome or Newark to coastal Croatia. Booking early remains important for peak travel dates, but the broadened network gives flexible travelers more options for adjusting dates or airports to secure lower fares.
Another practical effect is the potential to design more creative itineraries. With nonstop flights to cities like Split, Bari, Glasgow, and Santiago de Compostela, travelers can consider open-jaw trips that start in one country and end in another, using Europe’s extensive rail and low-cost airline networks for the middle section. The expanding web of direct transatlantic flights means U.S. travelers have more control over their time and routing, ultimately making it easier to experience Europe in new ways.