U.S. Airlines Expand Routes to Smaller European Cities as Travel Soars 30%
Over the past two years, U.S.-based airlines have re-evaluated their European routes. Traditionally, airlines focused on flying from various U.S. cities to major European capitals like Paris and London. However, carriers like Delta, United Airlines, and American Airlines have recently expanded to smaller, popular tourist cities.
Many of these destinations were previously more accessible via regional flights or trains. These include places like Naples in Italy, Porto and Faro in Portugal, and Seville and Bilbao in Spain. United Airlines, for example, has been offering more direct flights to these and other lesser-known destinations.
This shift comes as demand for travel to European destinations has been growing. United Airlines reported a significant rise in travel to Europe, with a 30% increase in overall traffic compared to 2019 and a 10% rise from 2023. The most in-demand destinations are those known for their Christmas markets, such as Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium.
"The European Christmas markets have become even more popular in recent years, and no airline makes it easier than United to get away and visit for the holidays," said Darren Scott, United's director of Atlantic and Hawaii planning. He also highlighted how United offers convenient connections to more than 130 European cities, including those famous markets in Dresden, Strasbourg, Vienna, and Cologne.
United's holiday flight network, which runs through mid-January, includes 16 flights to European cities known for their Christmas markets. While many prefer large cities like Munich, Frankfurt, and Zurich, United also connects travelers to smaller towns like Cologne, Helsinki, and Strasbourg through its partnership with Lufthansa.
In addition to popular seasonal routes, United has been focused on introducing more unusual destinations. In October, the airline launched new routes to places like Nuuk in Greenland, Bilbao in Spain, and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. These cities have seen a rise in tourism but have limited direct flights from the U.S.
Delta, meanwhile, is focusing on expanding its presence in Africa. After pausing its New York-Lagos route in 2022, Delta has resumed the flight and is upgrading its aircraft on routes to Ghana and South Africa. "Delta currently operates daily service between Atlanta and Lagos and, with the resumption of daily New York-JFK service, will offer a total of 14 weekly flights to Nigeria in December through the first half of January and ten weekly flights for the remainder of winter 2024," the airline shared. Delta is also upgrading its fleet to accommodate longer flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This move to smaller destinations and new routes reflects airlines' efforts to meet evolving travel trends and tap into less-explored markets.
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