US Airlines Battle for Dominance on Transatlantic Spain Routes

The competition among the three largest US airlines—American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines—is intensifying on routes to Spain. As each airline expands its transatlantic networks, they are responding to the growing demand for both leisure and business travel. This year, these carriers collectively operate over 75,000 flights to Europe, offering around 19 million seats, with Spain emerging as a crucial destination in their strategies.

American Airlines Leads in Routes

Among the US carriers, American Airlines holds the top position in terms of routes 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. All routes connect to either Madrid or Barcelona, with daily flights, though some are seasonal, pausing operations between October and March.

This winter, American Airlines plans to resume two seasonal routes earlier than usual and increase capacity on others. Notably, the airline will upgrade aircraft on select flights from Dallas/Fort Worth and Philadelphia, enhancing its transatlantic capacity to Spain.

American’s route details include:

• Charlotte–Madrid: Year-round, Boeing 777-200
• Chicago O’Hare–Barcelona: Summer Season, Boeing 787-8
• Chicago O’Hare–Madrid: Summer Season, Boeing 787-8 (restarting March 7 instead of late March)
• Dallas/Fort Worth–Barcelona: Summer Season, Boeing 777-200; Boeing 787-9 (restarting January 5 instead of late March)
• Dallas/Fort Worth–Madrid: Year-round, upgrading to Boeing 777-300ER from December 2 to January 5
• Miami–Barcelona: Year-round, Boeing 787-8
• Miami–Madrid: Year-round, Boeing 777-200
• New York JFK–Barcelona: Summer Season, Boeing 777-200
• New York JFK–Madrid: Year-round, Boeing 777-200
• Philadelphia–Barcelona: Year-round, Boeing 787-8; Boeing 787-9
• Philadelphia–Madrid: Year-round, Boeing 787-8 (upgrading to Boeing 787-9 from December 2 to January 5)

United Airlines Expands Spanish Destinations

While American Airlines connects the most US cities to Spain, United Airlines has expanded its network to serve the highest number of Spanish destinations. Traditionally operating flights from its East Coast hubs at Newark and Washington Dulles to Madrid and Barcelona, United has added leisure destinations in recent years. Seasonal summer service now includes flights to Málaga, Tenerife, Bilbao, and Palma de Mallorca. Additionally, the airline plans to introduce service to Santiago de Compostela in 2026.

The new Santiago route will commence on May 22, 2026, featuring three weekly flights from Newark, marking the first regular link between the United States and the Galician city. United will be the only carrier offering this route. The flight will operate seasonally to meet strong leisure demand during peak months.

United has also established a year-round operation for its Tenerife route, which initially started as a summer-only service in 2022. Despite earlier indications of discontinuation, this route will resume for the winter season on December 18, 2025, coinciding with holiday travel.

Delta Air Lines Reinforces Commitment to Spain

Delta Air Lines maintains a consistent year-round presence in Spain, operating flights from its key hubs in Atlanta and New York JFK to both Madrid and Barcelona. The airline increases its capacity during the summer months, offering up to 12 flights per week from each hub to Barcelona to meet seasonal demand. Earlier this year, Delta expanded its East Coast coverage by introducing flights from Boston to Barcelona.

Next year, Delta plans to further enhance its Spanish network by launching a new route from Seattle to Barcelona and resuming daily service to Madrid starting on May 16, 2026. The Barcelona flights will begin a few days earlier, with four weekly frequencies planned. In line with its broader transatlantic expansion, Delta will start all seasonal routes from Boston to Europe earlier in 2026 than in previous years, with additional flights for Barcelona-El Prat Airport.

The competitive landscape among American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines indicates a robust focus on the lucrative Spanish market. Each carrier’s strategies reflect an intent to capture the growing demand for travel in one of Europe’s most popular destinations.