United Airlines is about to restart direct flights between New York and Tenerife for the third consecutive year, and are extending the service to include the winter season for the first time. The route, which connects Newark Liberty International Airport (New Jersey) with Tenerife South Airport, will begin on June 1st, and continue through to the end of March 2025, providing a total of 23,400 seats across three weekly flights in each direction.
Lope Afonso, Tourism Councillor for the Tenerife Cabildo, heralded this development as one of the most significant advancements for the island in air connectivity this year. He highlighted the long-term efforts and intensive negotiations that have led to this agreement, noting its potential to solidify Tenerife as a prime destination for American tourists, who align well with the island’s focus on sustainability and high-quality experiences.
“The expansion of the direct connection between Newark and Tenerife South offers a unique opportunity to consolidate our destination in a highly desired market that matches our quality-focused strategy. It will also reduce our dependence on traditional markets,” he remarked.
Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, emphasised the growing interest from the North American market. “The extension of the direct flight to the winter season is a great opportunity for Tenerife. We have seen a consistent increase in travellers from the US and Canada during winter months, and this service will support our strategy to attract higher-spending tourists who stay longer and explore more of what Tenerife has to offer,” she said.
Antonio de Toro, Country Sales Manager for Spain at United Airlines, expressed his enthusiasm saying: “As the only airline connecting North America with the Canary Islands, we are delighted to return to Tenerife with an enhanced service that now includes the winter season. This provides greater travel options for customers on both sides of the Atlantic.”
The flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from the US (and Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays in the winter season), and on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from Tenerife (switching to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the winter).
The flight duration is approximately seven hours, on a Boeing 757-200 aircraft, featuring 176 seats: 16 in United PolarisSM business class and 160 in economy, including 42 Economy PlusSM seats offering extra legroom and personal space.
In total, Tenerife welcomed 36,531 American tourists to the island last year, a significant rise from 26,507 in 2022. The trend continues into 2024, with an increase of 16.8% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2023. Notably, 62% of American tourists visit during the winter months, compared to 38% in the summer (June-September).
Tenerife has strengthened its presence in the North American market through partnerships with major tour operators like Apple Leisure Group Vacations, and affiliations with key industry networks such as the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), Virtuoso, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), Travel Leaders Network, and Signature Travel Network.
