United resumes direct flights between New York and Tenerife

United Airlines will connect New York with Tenerife for the third consecutive year with a direct flight, now extending into the winter season.

Lope Afonso, Vice President and Tourism Councilor of the Cabildo, stated, “This is one of the most significant developments in air connectivity this year.” He highlighted that the agreement, developed over the past term and concluded after intense negotiations by Tenerife Tourism, provides a unique opportunity to strengthen Tenerife's presence in a high-quality market with significant spending power, aligning with the island's sustainable management strategy.

Afonso emphasized that strengthening the North American market will reduce Tenerife's dependency on other key markets.

Dimple Melwani, CEO of Tenerife Tourism, remarked, “Extending the direct connection between Newark and Tenerife South is a fantastic opportunity, reflecting growing interest from the United States and Canada, especially in the winter months.” She added that the winter extension supports Tenerife's strategy to attract higher-spending visitors and foster business opportunities in various sectors, including audiovisual, MICE, green energy, digital economy, and innovation.

The United service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from the US (switching to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays in winter) and Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from Tenerife (switching to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in winter). The approximately seven-hour flight will use a B757-200 aircraft with 176 seats: 16 in United PolarisSM business class and 160 in economy class, including 42 Economy PlusSM seats.

The American tourist market is growing rapidly in Tenerife. In 2023, 36,531 American tourists visited, up from 26,507 in 2022. In the first three months of 2024, the number of American tourists increased by 16.8% compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, 62% of American tourism occurs in the winter months.