American travelers eyeing Europe in the next few years are about to gain unprecedented access. Portugal has become the latest European country to deepen its travel facilitation ties with the United States, joining Scotland, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Hungary in rolling out measures that make it easier and more attractive for Americans to visit. At the same time, American Airlines is aggressively expanding its transatlantic network, announcing a raft of new nonstop routes to Copenhagen, Budapest, Prague, Zurich, and other coveted destinations through 2025 and 2026. Together, these developments are reshaping the map for U.S. travelers bound for Europe, blending smoother border formalities with more direct flight options than ever before.
Portugal Steps Up as a Key Gateway for U.S. Travelers
Portugal’s move to boost U.S. travel access cements its role as one of the most welcoming European gateways for American visitors. Already firmly on the transatlantic tourism radar thanks to Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, Portugal has aligned itself with a broader European trend of making it easier for U.S. passport holders to enter, transit, and spend longer periods in the country. While Portugal has long benefited from visa-free Schengen access for short visits, the government has pushed to deepen cooperation on border security, traveler screening, and digital systems that streamline arrivals and departures for vetted U.S. travelers.
This policy direction is broadly in step with the growing European emphasis on trusted traveler-style arrangements, closer data-sharing on security, and simplified border crossings for low-risk tourists and business visitors. For Americans, the practical result is a more predictable arrival experience and an environment where airlines are increasingly willing to experiment with new nonstop routes, seasonal services, and feeder connections into Portuguese hubs.
Portugal’s alignment with like-minded destinations such as Scotland, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Hungary signals to airlines that demand from the United States is likely to remain robust. As tourist numbers continue to rebound and surpass pre-pandemic levels across much of Europe, having policy frameworks that support efficient, secure, and high-volume travel has become a strategic advantage in attracting new long-haul flights.
Scotland, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Hungary Deepen U.S. Ties
Portugal’s decision does not stand in isolation. Across the continent, several key tourism powerhouses and emerging destinations have been investing in the U.S. market through both policy and marketing. Scotland has focused on restoring and expanding nonstop links from major U.S. hubs, recognizing how direct flights translate almost immediately into higher visitor numbers for cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Recent seasons have seen U.S. airlines, including American, return to Edinburgh with renewed confidence, supported by robust U.S.–U.K. air service agreements and strong leisure demand.
Greece and Italy have also ramped up their presence in U.S. airline schedules. Athens and Rome, along with Milan and secondary Italian gateways such as Naples, continue to see new or restored transatlantic services as Americans flock to Mediterranean beaches, cultural landmarks, and cruising hubs. For U.S. carriers, these are not just tourist hotspots but also connecting points into wider intra-European networks operated by local and partner airlines.
Switzerland and Hungary tell a complementary story. Zurich, with its status as a major financial center and gateway to the Alps, blends premium business demand with high-yield leisure traffic, particularly in summer. Budapest, by contrast, has emerged as a sought-after city-break destination and cruise gateway on the Danube. Hungary’s efforts to attract more American visitors align closely with airlines’ decisions to place new nonstop services from U.S. hubs into Budapest, positioning the city as a highlight of Central European itineraries.
American Airlines Unveils an Ambitious 2026 Transatlantic Expansion
On the airline side, the most eye-catching development is American Airlines’ decision to roll out a series of new European routes for the summer of 2026. The carrier has confirmed that it will launch nonstop flights from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, from Dallas Fort Worth to Zurich and Athens, and from Miami to Milan, alongside extended service between Dallas Fort Worth and Buenos Aires during the same season. These moves represent a significant bet on sustained North Atlantic demand and a clear strategy to connect more U.S. travelers directly with secondary and Central European cities.
From its Philadelphia hub, American will resume daily flights to Budapest and Prague starting May 21, 2026. Both routes will be operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, offering a mix of premium cabins and modern economy seating. Philadelphia already serves as a key transatlantic gateway for the airline, and the addition of Budapest and Prague expands its European network to 19 destinations in the 2026 summer schedule. For American travelers, that means more one-stop options from dozens of U.S. cities into Central Europe without having to connect via traditional Western European hubs.
Dallas Fort Worth, one of American’s largest hubs, will gain new summer services to Athens and Zurich beginning May 21, 2026. The Dallas–Athens flight will use a Boeing 787-8, reflecting strong demand for leisure travel to Greece, while the Dallas–Zurich route will be operated with a Boeing 777-200 on a limited seasonal basis through early August. Miami’s new year-round route to Milan is scheduled to launch on March 29, 2026, also on a 787-8, linking South Florida’s large Italian diaspora and premium leisure travelers directly with northern Italy.
Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest, and Zurich: New Stars of American Networks
American’s network strategy is not just about traditional capitals like London, Paris, and Madrid. Over the past two seasons, the airline has leaned into what the industry calls “long, thin” routes: transatlantic city pairs with moderate but steady demand, well suited to fuel-efficient widebodies and, increasingly, new-generation narrowbody aircraft. Copenhagen, Prague, Budapest, and Zurich all fit this profile, combining strong summer tourism with growing city-break and business traffic throughout the year.
Copenhagen has already re-entered American’s transatlantic map as a seasonal route, part of a broader trend that sees U.S. carriers tapping into the popularity of Scandinavia for both cruise passengers and independent travelers. Although Denmark’s capital is not directly included in the 2026 announcements, its recent addition underscores American’s willingness to test and refine routes outside the classic Western European triangle of London, Paris, and Rome.
Budapest and Prague are the headline newcomers for 2026, marking American’s only nonstop services from the United States to these cities. For many travelers, this eliminates the need to connect in London, Frankfurt, or Vienna, shaving hours off total journey times and reducing the complexity of baggage transfers and missed connections. Zurich, meanwhile, returns to American’s map from Dallas Fort Worth for the first time in nearly two decades, timed to align with the early stages of the FIFA World Cup and the resulting spike in international travel.
World Cup Momentum and the Geography of New Routes
Major sporting events often leave a lasting imprint on airline route maps, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is a case in point. Dallas is set to host nine matches, and American Airlines is leveraging its Dallas Fort Worth megahub to attract fans from Europe and South America. The limited-time Zurich and extended Buenos Aires services from Dallas Fort Worth in summer 2026 are explicitly positioned to serve this surge in demand.
Zurich’s role in global football administration, combined with its wealth and central European location, makes it an attractive origin point for corporate hospitality groups, sponsors, and high-income fans heading to World Cup matches in Texas and beyond. By offering a nonstop Dallas–Zurich connection, American is not just moving tourists; it is tapping into premium and business-class traffic that might otherwise flow via other transatlantic hubs.
At the same time, the Dallas–Athens route and the new services to Budapest and Prague align with a broader pattern of U.S. travelers extending their European trips around major events. Fans who cross the Atlantic for the World Cup may combine match days with time in Greece, Hungary, or the Czech Republic, especially when nonstop flights are available. The rise of multi-city itineraries, where travelers fly into one European destination and home from another, plays directly to American’s decision to serve both Budapest and Prague from the same U.S. hub.
What This Means for American Travelers: Shorter Journeys, More Choice
For U.S. travelers, the implications of these developments are straightforward and positive. More nonstop routes mean fewer layovers, shorter total journey times, and less exposure to potential disruptions at busy connecting hubs. Someone in a midsize U.S. city can now take a domestic flight to Philadelphia or Dallas and connect once to reach Budapest, Prague, Zurich, or Athens, rather than navigating an extra change in London, Amsterdam, or Frankfurt.
The addition of routes to cities like Copenhagen, Budapest, and Prague also broadens the range of itineraries available for river cruises, rail journeys, and multi-country trips. Travelers heading for Danube cruises, for instance, will find it easier to fly into Budapest and out of Prague, or vice versa, using American’s 2026 schedule. Similarly, Zurich’s inclusion unlocks straightforward access to Swiss alpine resorts and rail adventures, while Milan and Athens connect seamlessly to islands, wine regions, and lakes via local airlines and trains.
These routes also give American travelers more flexibility to seek out value. In peak summer periods, fares to traditional gateways like London and Paris can soar, while secondary destinations sometimes offer more competitive pricing. With a greater spread of nonstop options, savvy travelers can pair lower fares into or out of cities such as Budapest, Prague, or Zurich with overland segments or low-cost intra-European flights to craft more affordable vacations.
Fleet Upgrades and the Passenger Experience Across the Atlantic
American’s European expansion is underpinned by a long-term fleet renewal strategy that is gradually transforming the passenger experience on transatlantic flights. The airline is deploying Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners on many of its new European routes, including Miami–Milan, Dallas–Athens, and Philadelphia–Budapest and Prague. These aircraft offer improved fuel efficiency, quieter cabins, larger windows, and updated onboard amenities, making long-haul flights more comfortable for both economy and premium passengers.
On select routes, including the limited-time Dallas–Zurich service, American plans to use Boeing 777-200s, which will complement the Dreamliner fleet with higher capacity during peak periods. At the same time, the airline is introducing new premium products on its larger 787-9 aircraft and retrofitted widebodies, featuring upgraded suites with privacy doors, enhanced storage, and elevated dining. Although not every new European route will immediately benefit from the newest cabins, the direction of travel is clear: more premium seats, more comfort, and a stronger emphasis on long-haul leisure and corporate travelers.
The eventual deployment of long-range narrowbody aircraft, notably Airbus A321XLR jets, will give American further flexibility to open or sustain niche routes between U.S. secondary cities and European destinations. While the current wave of announcements focuses on widebody flying from major hubs, the medium-term outlook suggests an even more granular network, where cities like Copenhagen and selected Mediterranean or Nordic destinations can be linked nonstop to the United States with smaller, more efficient aircraft.
Planning Ahead: Timing, Seasonality, and Booking Strategy
With many of American’s new routes slated to begin in late March and May 2026, advance planning will be crucial for travelers hoping to capitalize on these services. Tickets for the 2026 routes are scheduled to go on sale in August 2025, giving travelers, tour operators, and corporate travel planners a long runway to organize their trips. Those aiming to combine World Cup matches with European vacations should pay particular attention to the Dallas Fort Worth departures to Zurich, Athens, and Buenos Aires during the May to August window.
Seasonality remains an important factor. Routes like Dallas–Zurich, Dallas–Athens, Philadelphia–Budapest, and Philadelphia–Prague are designed as summer seasonal services, typically ending in early August. Travelers eyeing shoulder-season deals in September or October may need to connect via other European hubs once the summer timetable winds down. By contrast, the Miami–Milan flight is planned as a year-round operation, potentially offering more options for off-season city breaks, opera trips, and ski holidays in the Italian Alps.
As Portugal and other European countries continue refining their border and travel facilitation policies for U.S. visitors, the regulatory landscape is becoming more predictable, which should support even more flight announcements in the coming years. For now, the confirmed expansion by American Airlines, combined with the supportive stance of countries like Portugal, Scotland, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Hungary, signals a new era of access and convenience for Americans crossing the Atlantic.