United Airlines launched the first scheduled nonstop commercial service between the United States and Santiago de Compostela on May 27, 2026. The seasonal route operates three times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) in Galicia, northwestern Spain — departing Newark on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The service runs until September 20, 2026, with 51 Newark departures planned for the season.
All flights are operated on the Boeing 737 MAX 8, with westbound (return) block times of approximately eight hours — United's longest 737 MAX 8 service. Eastbound flight UA222 departs Newark at 7:15 PM and arrives in Santiago at 8:15 AM. Westbound flight UA221 departs Santiago at 10:00 AM and arrives in Newark at 11:50 AM.
United first announced the route in October 2025, alongside new European services to Bari, Split, and Glasgow. Patrick Quayle, United's senior VP of global network planning and alliances, said Santiago exemplifies the airline's strategy of targeting secondary European cities with limited U.S. nonstop competition. Previously, U.S. travelers to Santiago de Compostela had to connect via Madrid, Barcelona, or Lisbon.
The carrier markets the route to Camino de Santiago pilgrims, cultural travelers, and the Galician and broader Spanish diaspora in the U.S. Santiago de Compostela's airport is primarily a short-haul hub, served domestically by Vueling; United's arrival represents the first transatlantic commercial nonstop in the airport's history.
United Airlines press release | Simple Flying | Business Travel News
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Things to do at each end of the route
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