United Launching 5 New Flights To European Destinations

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The time has arrived!

Spring Break shenanigans are over, Memorial Day festivities are just weeks away, so you know what that means…

Summertime!

Our well-earned PTO is piled up and ready to be cashed in for an epic trip abroad.

We all know Europe is never a bad decision, but the question always remains: where should I go?

United Airlines is making that decision much easier for the indecisive ones (like me!), who need a boost to narrow down their options and go for it.

From Iceland to Italy and numerous stunning locales in between, here are 5 destinations to jet off to as United preps to launch 5 new routes for a late spring fling or kickstart to summer.

Split Your Time In The Med 🇭🇷

This one’s a first — a groundbreaking flight is set to whisk Americans away to one of Croatia’s top beach destinations for travelers hoping not to feel walled in by Dubrovnik’s summer crowds.

Split, located on the Dalmatian Coast, is anything but spotty.

In fact, it’s one of Croatia’s liveliest and most vibrant coastal cities, blending sun-soaked beaches, Roman ruins, island-hopping excursions, and a postcard-worthy Old Town that feels every bit as magnetic as Dubrovnik — just without quite as many elbows in your ribs.

There’s no doubt it’s popular, but a bit harder to reach — until now.

United is set to launch its inaugural flight on April 30, 2026, from Newark (EWR), but hey, at least you can start the trip strong and feel safe doing so!

Based on real-time votes on our Traveler Safety Index, safety in Split is currently ranked at a 93/100:

Bari: Discover A Cheap Coastal City On The Rise 🇮🇹

Rome, Venice, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. Heck, throw in Naples while we’re at it…

One name you don’t find often in travelers’ jaunts is Bari, a cheap whitewashed port city with astounding views of the turquoise Adriatic.

But it’s not just the insanely gorgeous seaside panorama that will capture you — it’s one of the most sightly Old Town districts in the country.

Factor in cheap prices across the board, that means you can double up on cappuccinos to start your day, capped off by pizza and wine by night.

Again, travelers will start their adventure in Newark (EWR) and fly nonstop to Bari’s Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI) beginning May 1, 2026.

Travelers currently rank safety in Italy at a 91/100, so you can enjoy your trip worry-free:

Glasgow: Ditch The Winter Willies For A Scottish Summer 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Whether it’s England, Wales or Scotland, the UK is a phenomenal summer destination as the doom ‘n gloom vibes subside opening up sunny skies for more enjoyable explorations across the entire country.

Of course, Scotland is one of the most timeless nations of all, with gorgeous cities like Edinburgh, Sterling, and of course Glasgow, which is arguably the most modern of them all, but still feels unmistakably European.

Travelers can now fly direct from — you guessed it — Newark.

We won’t tell how, when, or what to eat, but we will say that a pub crawl here, whether on your own or a tour, is an absolute must, as is checking out staggering castles across the region.

United is set to launch the only nonstop to Glasgow from EWR with daily service starting May 8, 2026.

Travelers currently rank safety in the UK at an 89/100:

Santiago de Compostela: Spain’s Unsung Cultural City 🇪🇸

If you’re craving a Spanish vacation but don’t want to deal with the “Karens” of Barcelona, Madrid, and numerous island paradises, Santiago de Compostela is just the place for endless tapas, old stone streetscapes, and long wine-induced nights.

This cheap medieval city is one of the country’s last remaining hidden gems in terms of a major city.

Barcelona can set you back triple digits each day, while this treasure trove of Old World charm doesn’t need a beach to wow you, nor sticker shock to prove it’s a worthwhile destination.

Here, the centuries-old architecture does the talking.

It’s the Spain you didn’t know you craved — a far cry from tourist-overland megacities.

You can fly direct to Santiago de Compostela with 3 weekly flights from Newark (shocking at this point) beginning May 27, 2026.

Travelers currently rank safety in Spain at a 96/100:

Reykjavik: Europe’s Most Otherworldly Island

Despite its mainstream popularity in recent years, I’m not ashamed to say Iceland is my favorite country out of all 40+ countries I’ve traversed.

To be honest, I’m afraid to go back because I visited twice before it revoked its hidden gem status, but there’s no changing its Interstellar landscapes and the world-famous Blue Lagoon.

We’re not here to sugarcoat Iceland — it’s not hard to visit since its flagship Icelandair flies from numerous U.S. cities.

But what keeps travelers coming back isn’t convenience; it’s the chance to experience a place that feels like another planet, where black-sand shores, steaming geothermal pools, and lava-scarred terrain make even the dreariest weather feel cinematic in such places as Vik and Mývatn.

Whether you’re a Lord of the Rings fanatic or not, it always feels as if Bilbo Baggins will make an appearance to the point you don’t care what you’re spending since you’re in such a unique destination.

But guess what — this new route is not from Newark.

What makes this new flight special is not its location but the fact that it’s the ‘only service on this capital-to-capital route with lie-flat business class seats’.

Travelers can fly from Washington D.C. (IAD) to Reykjavik (KEF) starting May 21, 2026.

Travelers currently rank safety in Reykjavik at a 95/100:

Now take this quiz to find your perfect match!

Sam Sears

Sam, our Senior Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 44 countries and written over 1500 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.