The government of Ibiza, the Spanish island in the Balearics once known for its hedonistic party scene and now just as popular for its minimalist luxury vibes, is reportedly trying to convince United Airlines to start a non-stop flight from the US.
According to local media reports, the Ibiza Council and the island’s tourism promotion agency are working to secure a non-stop flight from New York to Ibiza, with an aim to get the route launched in time for the 2026 summer season.
United Airlines is the obvious choice amongst US carriers to launch such a route, given the fact that the carrier has been pretty adept at opening seasonal routes to secondary markets and already services Palma de Mallorca, which is also in the Balearics.
Ibiza has seen a massive influx of American tourists in recent years, but the majority of travelers are forced to connect through European hub cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Munich.
The ordeal of making potential visitors connect through a foreign country is enough to put off tourists from the United States – a lucrative market with local businesses keen to take advantage of the spending power of American travelers.
The president of the Ibiza Council, Vicent Marí, revealed that the island was in talks with United Airlines to launch a one-weekly service from New York, which is seen as an ultra-premium route that will attract the wealthiest visitors ready to splurge when they get to the White Isle.
Marí also said the island was exploring whether any airline would be willing to start non-stop flights from either Miami or Atlanta – potentially hinting that officials were trying to convince American Airlines and Delta to also start flights to Ibiza.
United Airlines, however, remains the most likely carrier of the Big Three US airlines to make an attempt at this route. For summer 2025, the airline is embarking on what it describes as the “largest international expansion in its history,” with plans to serve 147 international destinations over the summer.
Along with familiar favorites for United, like Barcelona, Athens, and Rome, the carrier also plans to add entirely new services to trendy destinations such as Palermo, Italy, Bilbao, Spain, and the Portuguese island of Madeira.
Ibiza has a reputation for out of control British tourists doing stupid things, if it has calmed down a bit maybe an influx of Americans can get the party going again full blast.
I don’t believe that Ibiza attracts a lot of ‘wealthy’ Americans or view it as a particularly chic resort. More like what John above says : a drunken party island. Unfortunately, the party frequently begins before touchdown, resulting in inflight brawls & diversions. Though UA seems to be the most amenable of the American big 3 airlines. Especially with limited freequency, seasonality AND a subsidy from the government !