United Airlines announced today its Summer 2026 schedule, revealing a significant expansion of its international network with new nonstop flights to four unique European destinations. The new routes are from Newark/New York (EWR) to Split, Croatia; Bari, Italy; Glasgow, Scotland; and Santiago de Compostela, Spain, reinforcing United’s position as the largest U.S. carrier across the Atlantic.
The announcement also includes new services to Iceland and South Korea, plus an increased frequency to Tel Aviv, offering MileagePlus members exciting new ways to earn and redeem their miles.
United’s New Summer 2026 Transatlantic Routes
The core of the expansion focuses on adding exclusive, nonstop service to trendsetting destinations that no other U.S. airline serves. These new routes provide seamless access to rich historical sites, stunning coastlines, and vibrant cultural hubs.
Here’s a breakdown of the new flights launching from Newark/New York (EWR):
Route | Start Date | Frequency | Aircraft | Key Highlight |
---|---|---|---|---|
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🇭🇷 Split (SPU) | April 30, 2026 | 3x weekly | Boeing 767-300ER | Only nonstop from the U.S. to the Dalmatian Coast. |
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🇮🇹 Bari (BRI) | May 1, 2026 | 4x weekly | Boeing 767-300ER | Only nonstop U.S. flight to Italy’s Puglia region. |
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🏴 Glasgow (GLA) | May 8, 2026 | Daily | Boeing 737-MAX8 | Only nonstop service from the U.S. to Scotland’s largest city. |
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🇪🇸 Santiago (SDC) | May 22, 2026 | 3x weekly | Boeing 737-MAX8 | First-ever scheduled service from the U.S. |
More New and Expanded Routes
Beyond the four new European cities, United is also strengthening its network in other key international markets:
Route | Start Date | Details | Aircraft |
---|---|---|---|
🇺🇸 Washington (IAD) to 🇮🇸 Reykjavik (KEF) | May 21, 2026 | New daily service, featuring lie-flat Polaris business class seats. | Boeing 757-200 |
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🇰🇷 Seoul (ICN) | September 4, 2026 | New year-round daily service from the East Coast. | Boeing 787-9 |
🇺🇸 Newark (EWR) to 🇮🇱 Tel Aviv (TLV) | March 28, 2026 | Third flight added (4x weekly), increasing total to 18 weekly flights. | Boeing 787-9 |
These additions create fantastic new opportunities for award redemptions, especially the Polaris-equipped flights to Iceland and the new year-round service to Seoul.
Launch Timeline
- March 28, 2026: Additional service from Newark (EWR) to Tel Aviv (TLV) begins.
- April 30, 2026: Inaugural flight from Newark (EWR) to Split (SPU).
- May 1, 2026: Inaugural flight from Newark (EWR) to Bari (BRI).
- May 8, 2026: Inaugural flight from Newark (EWR) to Glasgow (GLA).
- May 21, 2026: Inaugural flight from Washington (IAD) to Reykjavik (KEF).
- May 22, 2026: Inaugural flight from Newark (EWR) to Santiago de Compostela (SDC).
- September 4, 2026: Inaugural flight from Newark (EWR) to Seoul (ICN).
This expansion is great news for MileagePlus members, opening up more of the world for both earning and redeeming miles.
How to Book These New Routes with MileagePlus Miles
Finding award availability on brand-new routes can be competitive, but AwardFares makes it easy to spot seats the moment they are released. Here’s how to search for these flights.
1. Go to AwardFares
Creating an account is optional, but it’s also free, and it gives you access to more features. Make sure to sign up for one here.
2. Select the Frequent Flyer Program
In the Frequent Flyer Program picker, select United MileagePlus.

3. Add a Route(s)
In the From and To fields, enter your departure and arrival airports. In the example below, we search for flights between San Francisco (SFO) and London (LHR).

4. Explore Travel Dates
If you have a particular date in mind, tap on Calendar to add it.

AwardFares will start searching for available seats on flights that day, and show the results in a list below.

Alternatively, use the Timeline View to check availability across multiple days at the same time. This is the fastest way to see which dates have Saver availability without clicking day by day on United’s site.

5. Sort by Price
On the result list, tap on the header columns (Eco, Prem, Biz, First) to sort the results by price and find the cheapest awards instantly.

6. Filter for Saver Awards
Use the quick toggle to exclude non-saver awards. This is the most crucial step to ensure you are only seeing the most economical options.

7. Exclude Mixed Cabins (Optional)
Tap on Exclude Mixed: No Mixed Cabins to filter out itineraries that combine premium and economy cabins on different legs of the journey.

8. Book on United’s website
Once you find your desired flight, click the Book button to be redirected to United’s website to finalize your booking.

Find New United Awards on AwardFares
Ready to explore Europe or Asia with your MileagePlus miles? AwardFares is your best tool for finding award availability on these exciting new United routes.
- ✈️ Search for new nonstop flights to Split, Bari, Glasgow, and more
- 📆 Use the Timeline view to quickly pinpoint award seat availability
- 🗺 Browse real-time seat maps on United’s 767, 737-MAX, and Dreamliner aircraft
- 🔔 Set up alerts to be notified the moment award seats on your dream route become available