US Airlines Intensify Competition on Routes to Spain

The three largest US airlines—American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines—are actively competing for market share on routes to Spain, a key leisure destination in Europe. This year, these carriers are operating over 75,000 flights to Europe, providing approximately 19 million seats to meet the increasing demand for both business and leisure travel.

American Airlines Leads in Routes

American Airlines maintains the largest presence among US carriers flying to Spain. The airline operates 11 routes from six major hubs, including New York JFK, Philadelphia, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, and Charlotte, connecting to both Madrid and Barcelona. Each of these routes operates daily, although four are seasonal and typically stop service between October and March. Notably, American Airlines is revamping its winter schedule by reinstating two seasonal routes earlier than planned and enhancing capacity on others.

American’s winter route changes include:

– **Charlotte–Madrid**: Year-round service using a Boeing 777-200.
– **Chicago O’Hare–Madrid**: Summer service with a Boeing 787-8, restarting March 7 instead of the end of March.
– **Dallas/Fort Worth–Barcelona**: Summer service with Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 787-9, restarting January 5 instead of the end of March.
– **Dallas/Fort Worth–Madrid**: Year-round service, upgauging from Boeing 777-200 to Boeing 777-300ER from December 2 to January 5.

These changes reflect American Airlines’ strategy to enhance its transatlantic capacity to Spain.

United Airlines Expands Its Destination Network

While American Airlines connects the most US cities to Spain, United Airlines serves the most Spanish destinations. Long operating flights from its East Coast hubs at Newark and Washington Dulles to Madrid and Barcelona, United has recently expanded to include several leisure destinations. Seasonal summer services now include Málaga, Tenerife, Bilbao, and Palma de Mallorca, with plans to add Santiago de Compostela in 2026.

The new Santiago service, which begins on May 22, will feature three weekly flights from Newark, establishing the first regular link between the United States and the Galician city. This route will be unique to United Airlines, reflecting the airline’s focus on capturing leisure travel demand.

Additionally, United is transitioning its Tenerife South route from a summer-only service to a year-round operation starting in 2024. This route connects Newark with the Canary Islands, a popular winter destination in Europe. Earlier this year, there were indications that United might discontinue this route, but it has been confirmed to return for the winter season, resuming on December 18 to align with holiday travel.

Delta Air Lines Enhances Its Spanish Presence

Delta Air Lines maintains a steady year-round presence in Spain with services from its key hubs in Atlanta and New York JFK to both Madrid and Barcelona. During the summer months, Delta increases capacity on its Barcelona routes to between 11 and 12 flights per week from each hub, catering to strong seasonal demand. Earlier this year, Delta expanded its East Coast coverage by introducing flights between Boston and Barcelona.

Looking ahead, Delta plans to further bolster its Spanish network in 2026 by launching a new route from Seattle to Barcelona and resuming daily service to Madrid starting May 16. The new Barcelona flights will commence a few days earlier, with four weekly frequencies. In a bid to enhance its transatlantic offerings, all of Delta’s seasonal routes from Boston to Europe will begin earlier in 2026 compared to this year, with additional frequencies planned for Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

As competition intensifies among US airlines to capture the lucrative Spanish market, the ongoing expansion of services and routes highlights the airlines’ commitment to meeting the growing demand for transatlantic travel.