North American airline United Airlines has announced that its new transatlantic route to Valencia will commence operations in June 2027. This connection, featuring three weekly frequencies, will utilize the Airbus A321XLR aircraft, a new-generation model designed for long-haul routes.
According to the Visit València Foundation, this new route signifies a substantial advancement for the city's international connectivity, bolstering its position as a long-haul destination and restoring a direct link to a strategically important market. With this new connection, Valencia will boast two direct intercontinental links to the American continent, alongside the route to Montreal, Canada.
Paula Llobet, Councilor for Tourism, Innovation, and Investments and President of the Visit València Foundation, has hailed the announcement as "magnificent news." She highlighted it as the outcome of a collaborative strategy with Turisme Comunitat Valenciana and the Valencia Chamber of Commerce. Llobet emphasized that reinstating the New York connection is a historic achievement that will facilitate growth in long-haul markets and attract higher-value tourism, characterized by greater spending and longer stays, and which travels year-round.
The Airbus A321XLR, as explained by the airline, has a range of up to 8,700 kilometers and enables the opening of direct transatlantic connections with a single-aisle aircraft. Beyond its operational capabilities, this model is noted for its environmental efficiency, offering up to 20% lower fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions per seat compared to previous generations, along with a 50% reduction in acoustic footprint.
The President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, has positively assessed the announcement, viewing it as the culmination of efforts to enhance international connectivity and unlock opportunities in the North American market. Pérez Llorca stressed that the connection to the United States is "excellent news" for the Valencian Community and the tourism sector, confirming the growing interest of the North American market in the destination. He underscored that it is the result of a sustained strategy to open up to this market, driven by the Conselleria de Industria, Turisme, Innovació i Comerç.
