The city of Valencia is regaining its direct air link to New York, a connection that disappeared fifteen years ago when Delta Airlines canceled the route it operated between 2009 and 2012. United Airlines has announced the inclusion of Manises Airport in its largest international expansion, with flights to Newark set to begin in June 2027. This announcement concludes over a decade of efforts by the Valencian Government and the City Council of Valencia, who have worked to re-establish a link considered strategic for tourism and economic relations with the United States.
The new route will connect Manises Airport with Newark Liberty International Airport, United Airlines' hub for the New York City area, and will operate three times a week. This connection is part of the addition of ten new international cities to the airline's network and will be operated with Airbus A321X aircraft. The route marks the return of a link that Valencia lost in 2012 when Delta canceled its flight to John F. Kennedy, despite initially good occupancy rates.
Since then, the recovery of this flight has been a constant priority in the tourism strategies of the Generalitat and the City Council. Both institutions have held numerous meetings with North American and European airlines, presenting studies on the growth of the North American market and advocating for Valencia's capacity to sustain a transatlantic route. Tourism Councilor Paula Llobet has hailed the announcement as "magnificent news for Valencia and the result of a strategy we have been working on for years," emphasizing its importance for attracting higher value-added tourism.
Efforts to recover the connection date back to late 2015, with negotiations that were initially unsuccessful. The new director of Valencia Airport, Joaquín Rodríguez, already identified the recovery of New York as a priority objective in 2018. Aena, along with Turisme València and the Provincial Tourism Board, intensified institutional pressure from 2022 onwards. An air connectivity conference brought together officials from eleven airlines and airports, including United Airlines, where the flight's priority was highlighted due to the spending potential of North American tourists.
The use of more efficient aircraft opened opportunities for non-hub European destinations. Promotional missions to New York in 2023 and 2025, including meetings with Delta Airlines, strengthened the destination's promotion. The change in regional and municipal government did not alter the objective, and Councilor Nuria Montes met with Delta Airlines shortly after taking office. The insistence has been maintained at international fairs such as Fitur, World Travel Market, and ITB Berlin.
The growth of the North American market has been significant in recent years, despite the necessary layovers. Tourists from the United States generated 280,455 overnight stays in Valencia in 2025, ranking as the fifth international market. Approximately 63,000 North American tourists visited the city last year. The weight of this market continues to grow, becoming the leading international market in some months of 2026. The President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, has described the connection as "excellent news for the Valencian Community," while the Mayoress of Valencia, María José Catalá, has celebrated its impact on the city's international projection.
The new route is part of the strategic reorientation of the Visit Valencia Foundation towards markets with higher added value. The America Plan, targeting the United States, Canada, and Mexico, aims to strengthen Valencia's positioning and attract visitors interested in culture, gastronomy, and experiences, who have high spending capacity and plan their trips in advance.
