United Launches 4 New European Routes in Summer 2026 — What Hawai‘i Travelers Should Know
(This may not impact our Hawaii routes directly, but it’s a smart move by United that’s worth understanding, especially if you travel on the mainland or globally via MileagePlus.)
What’s New with United’s Summer 2026 Expansion
United recently revealed a bold expansion of its international network — adding four new European destinations and launching six new routes overall.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Route | Start Date | Seasonality & Frequency | Aircraft | Quick Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark (EWR) → Split, Croatia (SPU) | Apr 30, 2026 | Seasonal · 3× weekly | Boeing 767-300ER | New destination; premium-heavy 767 (“high-J”). |
| Newark (EWR) → Bari, Italy (BRI) | May 1, 2026 | Seasonal · 4× weekly | Boeing 767-300ER | New destination; Puglia gateway; 767 “high-J”. |
| Newark (EWR) → Glasgow, Scotland (GLA) | May 8, 2026 | Seasonal · Daily | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | New destination (service returns post-2019). |
| Newark (EWR) → Santiago de Compostela, Spain (SCQ) | May 27, 2026 | Seasonal · 3× weekly | Boeing 737 MAX 8 | New destination; Camino de Santiago access. |
| Washington-Dulles (IAD) → Reykjavik, Iceland (KEF) | May 21, 2026 | Seasonal · Daily | Boeing 757-200 | New route to existing destination set. |
| Newark (EWR) → Seoul, South Korea (ICN) | Sep 4, 2026 | Year-round · Daily | Boeing 787-9 | New route; complements SFO–ICN. |
United is also restoring all nine of its Summer 2025 seasonal routes (e.g. Greenland, Mongolia, Madeira) for the 2026 schedule.
Notably, United will be the only U.S. carrier offering nonstop service on some of these new routes (e.g. Split, Bari, Santiago de Compostela).
Why This Matters (Even for Hawai‘i Travelers)
Broader connectivity & award flexibility
Even though these routes don’t directly serve Hawai‘i, they expand United’s transatlantic “spine,” which can help when connecting from the U.S. to Europe or Asia.More interesting award routing options
For those redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards → United MileagePlus, these new routes provide fresh nodes to route through. (Yes — you can transfer Chase points into United MileagePlus and use them on these flights.)United’s creative marketing signals strength
The way United teased these routes with codes, clues, and “route reveals” signals a more engaging marketing posture. That kind of flair boosts brand perception, even among markets like Hawai‘i that aren’t on the route map yet.
United’s marketing plan is all about “crack the code” — teasing new global routes through cryptic clues, airport codes, and puzzle-style reveals to build buzz and engage mileage lovers before the official launch.
The Reveal: United’s Creative Tease & Clues
United didn’t just drop this news, it hinted at it first. Across their social media channels, fans spotted cryptic clues, route codes, and puzzle-like reveals pointing to new airports like Split (SPU), Bari (BRI), Glasgow (GLA), and Santiago (SCQ). Aviation and mileage nerds had fun decoding the hints before the official launch. (United loves theatrical route announcements.)
It’s a clever strategy: get your audience speculating, generate buzz, then formally announce. For our reward-travel readers, it means paying attention to clues on social feeds, airline handles, and route teasers can yield early info before full press releases drop.
What to Watch & How to Use This
Monitor award space
Once these routes go live, check saver-level award availability on United.com and via partners.Plan creative itineraries
For example: Hawai‘i → (LAX / SFO / DEN) → Newark → Split → onward in Europe.Chase UR transfers
Remember: Chase Ultimate Rewards points do transfer into United MileagePlus (1:1 ratio). Use that to fund these new flights with rewards rather than cash.
My Take (Scottie’s Thoughts)
United is doubling down on “off-the-beaten-path but meaningful” destinations, rather than continuing to oversaturate the usual European hubs. That helps them stand out and gives us more exotic options to plan around.
For Hawai‘i travelers: this expansion doesn’t change your direct routes, but it does give more flexibility when combining with mainland or transpacific segments. If your trip involves Europe or Asia from Hawai‘i, having more non-hub U.S. connections or fresh nodes to route through can be a game-changer. Also, the way United markets this shows they’re investing in brand excitement, and that helps all MileagePlus users (more route demand, more attention to loyalty).
