The new Ibiza–New York route, which is set to begin operating in 2027, will be the third direct air link between North America and the Balearic Islands, all three having been inaugurated in the last five years. In addition to the Palma–New York service, also operated by United Airlines, there is the route launched this season between Palma and Montreal (Canada) by Air Canada (which, in turn, is an affiliate of the former airline). This is an emerging transoceanic network that would have been practically unimaginable for the islands just a few years ago. That said, the Ibiza route adds an extra touch of quality to the offering, upgrading United’s service to Palma with different aircraft: smaller, but at the same time more modern and better equipped to provide a premium experience.
The airline’s routes to Ibiza and Valencia (another of next year’s major new additions) will be operated with the most modern international aircraft in its fleet: the A321XLR, known as ‘Born to Explore‘. It is a single-aisle aircraft designed to enhance the international travel experience for all passengers, with a particular focus on its most exclusive service offering. New features include a new United Polaris suite with a privacy door, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members, 4K OLED screens with Bluetooth connectivity, a refreshment area in United Economy, and new Economy Plus seats with more elbow room and access to a shared table thanks to an unoccupied middle seat. United Airlines is proud to currently be the only major U.S. airline to offer this seating option.
These improvements align with the goal of attracting an increasingly discerning clientele and fit perfectly with the vision and strategy established by the Balearic Islands to commit to a higher-value tourism model. This involves focusing efforts on attracting visitors with greater purchasing power and modernizing the offering to include higher-quality products and an experience that leaves a lasting impression on customers.
Antonio De Toro, United Airlines’ regional sales manager for Spain and Portugal, explains that the new planes simply follow the industry’s logical evolutionary process of improving on previous models. He stresses that the Polaris suites installed on their older planes are by no means a bad product, “but the new ones are undoubtedly more modern: the onboard product is an improvement, because it’s a higher-quality aircraft.”
The success of the route between Palma and New York was evident from its launch in the spring of 2022. The steady increase in demand led to a 12 percent increase in the passenger capacity of the aircraft operating the route. Consequently, during the first two years, the airline operated a fleet of Boeing 767-300 aircraft—equipped with 214 seats—which, starting in the 2024 season, were replaced by 767-400ER aircraft, with a total capacity of 240 passengers. “The Mallorca brand is growing in the U.S., just like Ibiza, which until now was almost better known,” explained De Toro. The proof of the growing interest in Ibiza is the new direct route set to launch on May 31, 2027. “We saw that there was great potential,” he said.
“As part of this major expansion, United will be the only airline to offer travelers from Spain the convenience of direct flights from Ibiza and Valencia to the United States,” says Antonio de Toro. “Our passengers in the United States will be able to take advantage of the direct flights to Ibiza to enjoy the crystal-clear waters of the Balearic Sea, and to Valencia, the birthplace of paella and one of the sunniest cities in the world.” In fact, De Toro states that the company has detected a clear interest among many American tourists in flying to Ibiza without having to go through Mallorca. In fact, many passengers on the New York-Palma route used the transatlantic flight as a springboard to visit Ibiza and Formentera. This is another factor that has undoubtedly contributed to the decision to include the “White Isle” in the global expansion plan announced by United this week.
Hoteliers’ reaction
For its part, the Hotel Business Federation of Ibiza and Formentera (FEHIF) has celebrated the announcement, highlighting that this connection “represents a step forward in the international connectivity of the Pitiüses and an opportunity to strengthen the presence of Ibiza and Formentera in the North American market.” They also highlight that “the ability to travel directly, without layovers, will facilitate both the arrival of American visitors and connectivity with the United States.”
The president of FEHIF, María Costa Roig, highlights the opportunity this new route represents for the destination: “The introduction of a direct route to New York is very good news for Ibiza and Formentera. It allows us to continue diversifying our markets and improving our connectivity with an international destination as important as the United States. We hope the route will be well-received and that it will help strengthen the Pitiüses’ position in the North American market.”
For Costa Roig, market diversification must continue to be one of the destination’s key priorities: “Market diversification is essential for Ibiza and Formentera. Having direct connections with new markets allows us to expand our capacity to attract visitors and, at the same time, strengthen the destination’s position in the face of any changes that may occur in tourist demand. That is why we believe this route presents an interesting opportunity for the Pitiüses Islands.
In fact, figures from the Ibiza Council show that visitors from the US between April and October 2025 accounted for more than 5 percent of all international tourists. Additionally, from January to June 2026, there were nearly 5 million travel searches from the U.S. to Ibiza, a 50 percent increase over the same period in 2025. Starting May 31, 2027, this journey will be possible nonstop. And with premium seats.
