Considering a vacation abroad this year? If so, you’ll have plenty of options for how to get there. And it’s not just the usual players spreading their wings; 2026 will see the debut of Alaska Airlines in the transatlantic market, with nonstop flights from its Seattle hub to London, Reykjavík, and Rome.
But unlike in 2025, when major U.S. airlines launched a slew of new routes across the pond, analysts say the outlook is less certain this year. In fact, 2026 summer airline bookings from Europe to the United States have fallen 14 percent year-over-year, and U.S. to Europe summer bookings have dropped 7 percent year-over year, according to airline analytics company Cirium.
Consumers’ attitudes may be shaped by factors like a weaker dollar (which recently hit a four-year low against the euro), concerns about anti-American sentiment abroad, and the dip in international travel from other countries to the USA. But this uncertainty might have a bright side for fliers if airlines reduce fares to stimulate demand.
For those determined to continue exploring internationally this year, these new international flight routes might inspire your next journey.
New international routes from U.S. airlines
Seattle residents will soon be able to fly directly to Iceland for epic hikes and endless waterfalls.
Photo by Serey Morm/Unsplash
Rome, London, and Reykjavík with Alaska Airlines
If there were any doubts that Alaska Airlines had outgrown the regional limitations of its name, its new nonstops to Europe this spring should put them to rest. Starting May 21, the carrier will offer daily, year-round service to London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from its Seattle hub on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with 300 seats, including 34 enclosed business-class suites with fully lie-flat seats and 79 in premium economy. It will offer seasonal daily service across the pond to two other destinations: to Rome Fiumicino Airport, also via a 787, starting on April 28, and to Iceland’s Keflavik Airport near the capital city of Reykjavík, on May 28, using a single-aisle 737-8 Max jet.
This follows on the heels of the airline’s expansion into Asia late last year with additional Dreamliner service on its year-round Seattle–Tokyo Narita route and new Seattle to Seoul flights.
Athens, Milan, and Prague with American Airlines
American said it will offer a “record” 18 daily flights this summer from the U.S. to Italy and Greece, with new seasonal daily flights from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas (DFW), to Athens starting on May 21, and a resumption of year-round service from Miami to Milan beginning March 29 (service on the route was suspended in 2020).
American is also reviving flights from Philadelphia to Prague and Budapest, after a six-year hiatus, with summer seasonal service launching on May 21. (Seasonal flights typically end after Labor Day.)
Barcelona, Malta, Madrid, Nice (France), Porto (Portugal), Rome, and Sardinia (Italy) with Delta Air Lines
This summer, Delta says it will operate the largest transatlantic schedule in its history, with more than 650 weekly flights to nearly 30 European destinations. From New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), the airline will launch new flights to Sardinia’s main airport in Olbia on May 20, flying four times a week throughout the season. Daily flights to Porto in northern Portugal will operate from May 21 through October, and thrice-weekly service to Malta will start June 7, ending October 23.
The airline is also launching new flights from Boston to Madrid and Nice, and from Seattle to Barcelona and Rome.
Search for secluded beaches while you’re in Sardinia, courtesy of new flights from Delta.
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Barcelona and Milan with JetBlue
JetBlue is continuing its expansion into continental Europe this season, launching two new routes from Boston, with daily flights to Barcelona’s El Prat International Airport starting April 16 and to Milan Malpensa Airport on May 11. Both will be seasonal summer routes, ending in October, via the carrier’s extended range single-aisle Airbus A321 jets, with premium Mint suites.
Split (Croatia), and Santiago de Compostela (Spain) with United Airlines
United may have the fewest new European routes among the major U.S. airlines this year, but it gets top marks for originality—with new seasonal flights from its hub at Newark Liberty International (EWR) to two destinations that have never before had nonstop service from North America: Santiago de Compostela in Spain and Split in Croatia. Both cities have been growing in popularity in recent years: Santiago de Compostela as the final stop on the fabled Camino pilgrimage trail and Split as the gateway to the Dalmatian coast. Thrice-weekly flights are set to begin April 30 to Split, and on May 22 to Santiago, with service ending in September.
New international routes from foreign carriers
Travelers based in Northern California can take advantage of LOT Polish Airlines’ new nonstop flight from SFO to Warsaw.
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Dublin from Pittsburgh and Raleigh–Durham with Aer Lingus
Ireland’s flag carrier will add two U.S. cities to its route map this year, with five flights a week between Dublin and Raleigh–Durham starting in April 13, plus four times a week service to Pittsburgh beginning May 25. Both routes will operate with long-range, single aisle Airbus A321 aircraft,and will fly year-round, although with fewer frequencies in winter.
Paris from Las Vegas with Air France
Sin City will get its first direct air connection to the French capital on April 15, when it begins thrice-weekly Airbus A350 flights to Charles De Gaulle airport (CDG), through October 24.
London Heathrow from St. Louis with British Airways
Starting April 19, British Airways will operate four flights a week from Heathrow to its 27th U.S. gateway, St. Louis, with 787 Dreamliner equipment featuring three classes of service: coach, premium economy, and business. The seasonal service will run through October.
Rome from Houston with ITA Airways
ITA, the successor to Italian flag line Alitalia, will launch the first nonstop service between Houston and Rome starting May 1, via Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The route will start with three flights a week, increasing to five weekly flights from June 1 through October 24.
Warsaw from San Francisco with LOT Polish Airlines
The Polish flag carrier will start seasonal flights via a 787 Dreamliner on May 6, with four flights a week through October between San Francisco and Warsaw.
Casablanca (Morocco) from Los Angeles with Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc will start flights between its Casablanca hub and Los Angeles in June, giving Angelenos their first nonstop service to the African continent in seven years. RAM’s service to the West Coast will operate three times a week on the Boeing 787-8; from the Moroccan gateway, passengers will be able to connect easily to Accra, Cairo, and Lagos.
Flight options are increasing for those who want to explore Taiwan.
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Taipei from Pheonix with Starlux
Starting in March, the upscale Taiwanese carrier Starlux will offer service four times a week between Phoenix and its capital city, via an Airbus A350 aircraft with 306 seats in four classes: first, business, premium economy, and economy.
Taipei from Washington Dulles with EVA Air
Starting on June 26, Taiwanese carrier and Star Alliance member EVA Air will begin operating a new route between Washington Dulles and Taipei. The flights will be on Boeing 787-9 aircraft with three classes of service: EVA Air’s version of business class, Royal Laurel Class, a new generation premium economy, and regular economy seats. The route will operate four times per week.
