United Airlines is growing its international route network more than ever in 2027. The Chicago-based airline on Tuesday revealed its highly anticipated slate of new destinations for next summer. If you’re a traveler looking for somewhere new and less touristy to explore, there are plenty of new options to consider. United’s annual “route drop” includes the first nonstop flights from the United States to Slovenia and Luxembourg in Europe. There’s a brand new destination in Japan, along with flights to islands in Spain, Portugal and Italy. Additionally, United is launching service to two French cities that currently cannot be reached without a stop: Valencia, Spain. SERGIO FORMOSO/GETTY IMAGES In total, there are 10 new international destinations and 13 new routes for United in 2027, the largest route announcement of its kind in the airline’s history. The reveal of new summer routes, which has become an annual spectacle at United, adds to what has already been an ambitious global push in recent years, marked by flights to places like Greenland, Mongolia and Palermo, Italy. “We have opened more of the world to our customers,” said the network chief. planner Patrick Quayle said in a call with reporters. “Next summer, we’ll give them more opportunities… to explore places they may not have considered before.” United’s 10 New Destinations for 2027 Without further ado, here are the 10 new places United plans to fly in 2027. Reward your inbox with TPG’s daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers to receive breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts By signing up, you’ll receive newsletters and promotional content and you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the practices of data in our Privacy Policy. You can cancel your subscription at any time.Catania, Italy (Sicily)Ibiza, SpainLjubljana, SloveniaLuxembourgMarseille, FranceOkinawa, JapanOlbia, Italy (Sardinia)Terceira, Portugal (Azores)Toulouse, FranceValencia, SpainFull route details will be available in a moment.SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYSSome key points you should know first, however:Seven of those destinations are places where you currently cannot reach nonstop from the U.S. Currently, only two of the destinations are served by another U.S. airline: Catania (Sicily) and Olbia (Sardinia). Nine of the 10 new cities are in Europe. Catania, Italy, with Mount Etna visible in the background. GIACOMO AUGUGLIARO/GETTY IMAGES Full Details: United Route Drop for Summer 2027 Okay, now to the details: Where (and when) will these new international routes launch? Let’s get to the full rundown: THE POINTS BOY Note that each of the new flights will begin between March and June 2027. The biggest winner: United’s hub in Newark, which gets a whopping eight new destinations for next summer, all in Europe. Existing International Destinations The routes above are all new “pins” on the United route map. But those aren’t the only new routes he’s planning. The airline also announced plans to link three additional U.S. cities with international destinations it currently flies to from other hubs: Route Details Aircraft Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka, Japan March 27, daily year-round service Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Denver International Airport (DEN) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) May 27, daily Year-round service Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington, DC, to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) May 28, three times a week Boeing 767-300ER The new service from Los Angeles to Osaka builds on United’s existing service to the Japanese city from its San Francisco International Airport (SFO) hub. As for Milan? Executives noted it was the largest international market that did not have direct service from the airline’s hub at IAD. Airbus A321XLR plays an important role Featured prominently in this crop of new destinations? United’s new Airbus A321XLR, a long-range, single-aisle aircraft that will soon join its fleet. Since ordering the plane in 2019, United has promised creative international service to places where demand might not be strong enough to support flights on a large, wide-body plane. The XLR will anchor the airline’s inaugural service to five destinations: Luxembourg, Toulouse, Ibiza, Valencia and Marseille. While these are long flights on a narrow-body aircraft, United’s new XLRs feature the airline’s next-generation Polaris suites and a true premium economy cabin. United Airbus A321XLR Polaris cabin. UNITED AIRLINE United’s new international destinations: What you need to know While none of the new destinations United announced for summer 2027 are as obscure (or remote) as previous years’ service to Nuuk or Ulaanbaatar, there’s plenty here for travelers looking to avoid the crowds in Europe and discover new places. SloveniaUnited service to Slovenia will connect its Newark hub with the country’s capital city, Ljubljana. United executives touted the destination as a way to connect travelers to the Alps, located northwest of the city, and as the airline’s latest venture into a truly novel destination: Ljubljana, Slovenia. KARL HERNDON/GETTY IMAGES “If you look at the type of unique destinations we’ve been adding,” Quayle said, “it fits their profile, hook, line and sinker.” Ibiza Ibiza’s new service from Newark will take United to the Mediterranean island off the east coast of Spain. Its main rival, Delta Air Lines, had considered adding Ibiza last year but ultimately decided to send its planes elsewhere. Now, United heads to Ibiza Airport (IBZ). FJ JIMENEZ/GETTY IMAGESSardinia and SicilyUnited already made their debut on the Italian island of Sicily in 2025, when they launched service to Palermo, the same week Delta began flying to Catania, the other major gateway to Sicily. Now, United plans to launch its own service to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), giving it two Sicilian destinations for United MileagePlus members to choose from in 2027. Elsewhere, United also plans to join Delta on the island of Sardinia, which, by the way, is home to a hot new property in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Both flights to the Italian islands will launch just before Memorial Day weekend in 2027 and give United a total of eight destinations in Italy. Toulouse and Marseille United has long offered services to the French cities of Paris and Nice. Next: Toulouse and Marseille. The latter is located in the far south of France, along the Mediterranean coast, and is a gateway to the country’s Provence. region.Marseille, France. PIERO DAMIANITulouse, for its part, is best known in the aviation world as the home of European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which built the A321XLR that United will fly to that same city. This route will link Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) with IAD, which is located just a few miles from Airbus’ North American headquarters in Virginia. LuxembourgUnited sees its new service to Luxembourg as a key trade route to add to its EWR line. That’s a big reason why you’ll see these flights operate year-round instead of just during the peak summer season, like most of the routes the airline announced. Quayle noted that this is a prime example of a route United probably wouldn’t have added if not for its new XLR, which is smaller and cheaper to operate than a large twin-aisle aircraft. United Airlines Airbus A321XLR. UNITED AIRLINESValenciaAfter launching Bilbao and Santiago de Compostela in recent years, United will add another Spanish city to its repertoire in 2027: Valencia, located on the country’s east coast. Valencia, along with Ibiza, will provide United with a total of eight non-stop destinations in Spain. And it will offer travelers another alternative option in a country that has struggled with overtourism in some of its top vacation destinations, most notably Barcelona, in recent summers. TerceiraLater Launching service to the Azores in 2022 via Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel, United is adding another flight to the Portuguese archipelago. The airline will launch service to Terceira, a volcanic island located in the northern Atlantic Ocean, in June.Terceira. Azores. HELOVI/GETTY IMAGES This will be the only international route that will not be flown on an aircraft with international-style business class seating. United will fly a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which features domestic-style first-class recliners up front. The good news: Terceira is not a really long flight. Current United flights from Newark to Ponta Delgada take just five and a half hours. Okinawa The new and only trans-Pacific destination announced Tuesday will be the fourth city in Japan that United has linked to the mainland U.S. The airline already flies nonstop from the mainland U.S. to Tokyo and Osaka. Its service to Sapporo begins later this year. And coming in March 2027: nonstop flights from SFO to Naha Airport (OKA) in Okinawa. Okinawa, Japan. IPPEI NAOI/GETTY IMAGES The Japanese island, which lies several hundred miles south of the country’s mainland, is world famous for its beaches and its “Blue Zone” status. Simply put, all routes announced by United on Tuesday were expected to go on sale immediately for departures in 2027. But United travelers won’t have to wait until next year to see the new A321XLR aircraft, which is scheduled to make its debut on long-haul routes. from IAD to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) and Dublin Airport (DUB) in December.Related reading:
