The basics:

• United Airlines will add 8 new international routes from Newark in 2027
• Expansion debuts airline’s largest international growth plan yet
• Newark airport will gain nonstop service to eight destinations across Europe
• Several new routes will use United Airbus A321XLR

United Airlines is making its largest international expansion yet in summer 2027, and Newark Liberty International Airport is leading the charge.

The airline will add 10 new international cities and three new routes across Europe and Asia next year. And several will take flight on the company’s newest international aircraft, the “Born to Explore” Airbus A321XLR.

United made the announcement – and debuted the single-aisle plane – at its East Coast Hub at EWR Aug. 25. Of the new destinations added to its roster, eight depart from Newark.

• Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
• Marseille, France
• Ibiza, Spain
• Valencia, Spain
• Terceira, Portugal
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Olbia (Sardinia), Italy
• Catania (Sicily), Italy

Beyond expanding United’s reach, the additional locations also make the airline the only domestic carrier to fly nonstop from the U.S. to eight of these places. In Newark, United will hold that exclusivity for Luxembourg, Marseille, Ibiza, Valencia, Terceira and Ljubljana, along with its expansion in San Francisco to Okinawa, Japan, and from Washington Dulles to Toulouse, France, also announced Tuesday and rounding out the newly added international destinations.

Making news in Newark

The Newark event drew United CEO Scott Kirby, Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella and Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances Patrick Quayle.

Kirby called attention to the strategy United has employed since the pandemic. “We offer the most flights across the Atlantic and Pacific and Newark is the best Atlantic gateway in the country – so far this year, it’s the most on-time airport in the New York City area,” he said, adding the airline would keep building on that momentum.

Quayle offered further insights during a call about the expansion. Responding to a query about the push in Newark, the executive said he was confident in the facility.

“What gives me confidence is that Newark has been the most reliable of the big three New York airports.

“So, if you look at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK, Newark is No. 1. There’s no doubt about that. The FAA has been enforcing the caps, and I flew in here today and look, it’s operating incredibly well,” he said.

In June, the U.S. Department of Transportation said EWR led all major Northeast airports in on-time performance so far in 2026. At the time, United said it had flown nearly 5.8 million passengers through Newark in April and May and recorded its best-ever on-time performance at the airport during that period.

Following the debut of its award-winning new Terminal A, Newark airport approved a $75 million upgrade plan for Terminal B in May. In July, United also debuted new Newark flights for certain college football games.

United revealed plans for a significant fleet expansion earlier this year. Of the 250 new aircraft it anticipates delivering by 2028, at the time it said the Airbus A321XLR will account for 28 (out of 50 total on order).

Quayle noted no airline flying an XLR today has the seat or product that United will.

International route expansions

With a goal to “elevate international travel for everyone on board,” the plane’s features include the new United Polaris suite with a privacy door, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, 4K OLED screens with Bluetooth connectivity, a snack bar in United Economy, and the new Economy Plus seats with extra elbow room and access to a shared table across an open middle seat.

United expects to be the only major U.S. airline with that seating option.

Introducing the flight to Luxembourg that will travel from Newark, Quayle said the trip offered a great example of what XLR “allows us to do.” Describing Luxembourg as an important business corridor with U.S. tech and banking ties, “corporate customers will now save multiple hours of travel time by connecting Newark and Luxembourg nonstop.”

United expects to begin flying the A321XLR domestically in September, before launching international service Dec. 1 from Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., to Amsterdam and Dublin.

United also announced several new flights to Japan, Italy and France that it said will give it the distinction of serving more destinations than any other U.S. carrier to those counties. But those changes do not affect EWR. The company also said it will restart service from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, Israel.

United said with the new additions it now flies to more than 160 international destinations. It has added 58 since 2017. It also notes all new routes are subject to government approval. Tickets are available for sale beginning Aug. 25.