Valencia Airport has beaten Alicante-Elche to a long-awaited milestone, with United Airlines set to launch the first direct flight between the Valencian Community and the United States in summer 2027.
For anyone on the Costa Blanca who regularly travels to the United States, there’s an interesting new option on the way. It won’t be from Alicante-Elche Airport, as many had hoped, but it will mean being able to fly directly to New York without leaving the Comunitat Valenciana.
United Airlines will operate three flights a week between Valencia Airport and Newark, one of the main airports serving New York.
The announcement follows months of talks about bringing a direct US connection to the region, with Alicante-Elche and Valencia both considered possible candidates.
Valencia gets there first
A direct flight to the United States has long been one of the ambitions of the tourism sector in Alicante province.
At Fitur earlier this year, the Generalitat confirmed that it had been holding meetings with North American airlines to explore possible routes. New York, Miami and Dallas were among the destinations under discussion.
We now know that New York will be the first, and Valencia Airport has secured the route.
It also gives Valencia its second direct connection with North America, following the previously announced service to Montreal in Canada.
For now, Alicante-Elche Airport will have to wait for its own direct US connection.
Three flights a week from summer 2027
United Airlines plans to launch the Valencia-Newark service during the summer 2027 season, with three flights each week.
Newark Liberty International Airport serves the New York metropolitan area and is a major hub for United, which should also make onward connections to other parts of the United States possible.
United announced the Valencia service as part of a wider expansion of its network, which also includes a new route to Ibiza.
What does it mean for Costa Blanca travellers?
Although the aircraft will take off from Valencia rather than Alicante, the route could still be useful for people living on the Costa Blanca.
At present, passengers travelling from the area to New York generally need to connect through Madrid, Barcelona or another European airport. From summer 2027, driving or travelling to Valencia will provide another option for making the journey without a flight connection.
The route could be particularly convenient for residents of the northern Costa Blanca, where Valencia Airport is within relatively easy reach.
Talks with United Airlines
The Generalitat says it has worked for some time to secure a direct connection with the United States.
Officials met United Airlines during the Routes Europe event in May and held another meeting with the airline on August 13.
During those discussions, the Generalitat provided information about demand for travel between the Comunitat Valenciana and the United States, the growth of Valencia Airport and the number of Valencian businesses with links to the American market.
The regional government also highlighted the area’s potential to attract visitors throughout the year.
Could Alicante get a US flight next?
The announcement does not mean the possibility of a direct flight from Alicante-Elche has disappeared.
The airport serves the Costa Blanca’s large international population and tourism industry, and a direct link with the United States remains an important goal for the province.
For now, however, Valencia has got there first. From summer 2027, Costa Blanca residents prepared to make the journey north will finally have a direct flight to New York from within the Comunitat Valenciana.
Quick recap
- United Airlines will launch direct flights between Valencia and Newark, New York.
- The route will start in summer 2027.
- There will be three flights each week.
- It will be the first direct US route from an airport in the Comunitat Valenciana.
- Alicante-Elche Airport will still not have a direct scheduled flight to the United States.
- The Valencia service gives Costa Blanca residents another option for reaching New York without changing planes.
- A direct US connection from Alicante-Elche remains a goal for the Alicante and Costa Blanca tourism sector.
