For the third consecutive year, United Airlines will connect New York directly with Tenerife, with an important extension of its duration. The connection between Newark Liberty International Airport (New Jersey) and Tenerife South will have three weekly frequencies in each direction starting on June 1st and will run until at least the end of March 2025. During this period, it will offer a total of 23,400 seats.
Lope Afonso, Vice President and Tourism Councillor of Cabildo, states that “without a doubt, we are facing one of the most important pieces of news of the year in terms of air connectivity. It is an agreement that has been worked on extensively, which began to take shape in the last mandate, and that we have been able to conclude after months of intense negotiations from Tenerife Tourism. It represents a unique opportunity to consolidate the destination in one of the most desired issuing markets, which best fits the quality profile that we have been aiming for in our sustainable destination management strategy, due to its interest in the values that the island holds and in our cultural offer, and for its spending capacity in the destination. Investing in consolidating the North American market will make us less dependent on the figures currently provided by other reference issuing markets.”
Dimple Melwani, CEO of Tourism Tenerife, adds that “the extension of the direct connection between Newark (New York) and Tenerife South is a great opportunity for Tenerife in a market whose interest in the island is increasing, and where we have observed a growth in travellers from the United States and Canada indirectly during the winter months.”
Melwani further adds that “the extension of the direct flight for the winter is great news for the island and is vital for successfully implementing Tenerife’s strategy to access better target markets with longer stays and greater spending capacity at the destination, and for the business opportunities that it can generate for Tenerife in different sectors: audiovisual, MICE, green energy, digital economy, innovation, among others.”
Antonio de Toro, Country Sales Manager Spain for United Airlines, states: “As the only airline connecting North America with the Canary Islands, we are delighted to return to Tenerife with a significantly expanded service now including the winter season, offering our customers on both sides of the Atlantic even more travel options. Customers can take advantage of a direct connection to and from the USA, as well as an unparalleled route network from United’s hub in New York/Newark, offering convenient non-stop connections to destinations throughout the Americas.”
United’s service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from the United States (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays during the winter season); and on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from Tenerife (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the winter season). The approximately seven-hour flight will be operated with a B757-200 aircraft, with a total of 176 seats: 16 lie-flat seats in United PolarisSM business class and 160 seats in economy class, including 42 Economy PlusSM seats with more legroom and personal space.
Growing Market
The number of American tourists staying in tourist accommodations on the island last year stood at 36,531, compared to 26,507 in 2022. In the first three months of 2024, the number of tourists from the US, 8,828, increased by 16.8% compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, 62% of tourists from that origin staying in establishments on the island do so in the winter months, compared to 38% in the summer months (June-September).
Tenerife’s strategy in the North American market has been strengthened in recent years. The island is offered as part of the destinations of tour operators such as Apple Leisure Group Vacations, in addition to being part of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA); the Virtuoso travel agency network, with over 21,000 agents; the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), one of the largest travel trade associations in the world; Travel Leaders Network; and Signature Travel Work, which has over 15,000 travel advisors.
