Direct Flights From NYC to Valencia Are Coming: How Getting Here Works Now

After years of routing everyone through Madrid or Barcelona, Valencia is finally getting direct flights from NYC again. So as someone who lives here, I am pretty excited about it! 

United Airlines will fly nonstop from New York to Valencia starting in June 2027. This is the first direct link between the two cities in over a decade. 

I’ll describe how the routes will work, and how to get here from the US in the meantime.

Last verified: September 2026. Flight schedules and fares change often, so always double-check the details with United before booking.

Direct flights from NYC to Valencia

As of the time of writing, there haven’t been direct flights in over a decade. However, they are coming. 

Starting June 2, 2027, United Airlines will fly nonstop between Newark (EWR) and Valencia (VLC), three times a week on the new Airbus A321XLR. It is a seasonal summer route and the first direct service between New York and Valencia in 15 years. Until then, you fly with one stop.

So if you are reading this before summer 2027, you cannot book a nonstop just yet. That said, it is on United’s schedule, and it’s going to make getting to Valencia so much easier! 

Which airline flies direct from New York to Valencia, and when does it start?

United Airlines is the carrier, and the first flight is scheduled for June 2, 2027.

It runs three times a week between Newark Liberty International (EWR) and Valencia Airport (VLC), also called Manises. United will be the only US airline flying nonstop to Valencia, so that’s cool!

The route is part of United’s largest international expansion to date, a batch of new secondary-city links across Europe flown by the smaller, longer-range A321XLR, as reported when the route was announced. 

Valencia is finally on that list, which is great news for anyone looking to come to the city. 

Is the new Valencia flight year-round or seasonal?

The Newark to Valencia route is seasonal, built for the summer travel window rather than the whole year. 

It launches in early June 2027 and is expected to run through the warmer months into the fall. 

Outside that window, you will still have to connect through other cities, like Madrid or Paris.

Which means if you’re coming in December, then you won’t be able to take these direct flights. 

So if you want some help planning your trips to Valencia, just reach out! I’m offering free travel consultations for people looking to come in 2027. 

What plane is it, and is a single-aisle jet okay across the Atlantic?

The route flies on the Airbus A321XLR, a single-aisle jet built specifically for longer thin routes like this one. Yes, it is narrower than the big widebodies you might picture for a transatlantic flight, but United’s version has 20 lie-flat Polaris business suites with doors, 12 Premium Plus seats, seatback screens, and free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members.

Which is all just fancy words to say that there’s only one aisle, but it’ll still be pretty comfy. 

If you have only ever crossed an ocean on a giant two-aisle plane, the A321XLR feels different, though not in a bad way. It is a newer cabin, and the whole reason Valencia is getting this flight at all is that this aircraft makes a mid-size route like Newark to Valencia profitable where a jumbo never would have been.

How long is the flight, and how much will it cost?

For the direct flights from Newark to Valencia, expect roughly seven and a half to eight hours in the air nonstop, give or take. 

Early economy round-trip fares have been reported in the range of about 700 to 1,000 euros. Although prices will move around a lot once booking opens fully and as the launch gets closer.

For comparison, that flight time is such a lifesaver. My own trips home to the US have reliably taken over 20 hours door to door, because I first had to get to Madrid or Barcelona before even starting the Atlantic crossing. A nonstop from Valencia knocks off flight hours, layovers, and a chunk of cost too.

You can watch fares on the New York to Valencia route on Kiwi or on Skyscanner to get a feel for pricing as it settles.

How do I fly from the US to Valencia right now (before June 2027)?

Until the nonstop launches, the fastest way from the US to Valencia is a single connection through a major EU city. 

You fly into Madrid, Barcelona, Lisbon, or a larger gateway like Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Paris, then take a short hop into Valencia (VLC). 

Typically, you don’t have to worry about any overnight stops. But you can definitely expect 12+ hours of travel.

If you would rather fly into Madrid or Barcelona and come the rest of the way overland, the train is genuinely pleasant. I have written full guides on getting from Madrid to Valencia and from Barcelona to Valencia, both of which take under three and a half hours by high-speed rail.

How do I get from Valencia airport to the city center?

Getting from Valencia Airport into the city is quite simple! The metro connects the airport directly to the center in about 25 minutes, and a taxi runs a flat, reasonable fare that beats most European capitals. 

I go through every option, current prices, and which one makes sense with luggage in my full guide on getting from Valencia Airport to the city center.

Why did Valencia lose its US flight, and why is it back now?

Valencia last had a direct US route with Delta between 2009 and 2012, before the financial crisis dried up demand and the flight was cut. The airport was handling less than half the passengers it does today, and a transatlantic route simply could not hold up.

But now Valencia is becoming one of the biggest tourist cities in Spain. 

The city has become one of Spain’s fastest-rising destinations.Which has its pros and cons. Because while it does bring in more money, it also comes with increased gentrification, higher cost of living, and a housing crisis. 

Is Valencia worth flying all this way for?

Okay so obviously I am biased. But yes. Valencia gives you a walkable historic center, a real city beach, the Túria gardens running right through the middle, world-class cuisine, and an amazing culture. A nonstop from New York just makes an easy yes even easier.

If you are still deciding, I have a guide about whether Valencia worth visiting, and you can dig into the best things to do in Valencia once you are convinced. 

Since the nonstop is a summer route, my month-by-month take on the best time to visit Valencia is worth a read for timing, and where to stay in Valencia will sort out your neighborhood.

tl;dr

Here is the short version if you are skimming:

• United launches nonstop Newark (EWR) to Valencia (VLC) on June 2, 2027, three times a week on the Airbus A321XLR.
• It is a seasonal summer route and the first direct US to Valencia flight in 15 years.
• United will be the only US carrier flying nonstop to Valencia.
• Flight time is roughly seven and a half to eight hours; early fares were reported around 700 to 1,000 euros round trip.
• Before June 2027, fly one stop through a European hub

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More Valencia Travel Resources

With new direct flights to Valencia, summer travel will get a lot easier!

I help travelers put the whole trip together, from neighborhoods to day trips to the small stuff that makes a visit click. If you want a hand, my travel services range from a free 15-minute consult to full trip planning, and booking-ready travelers can have their hotels and trips handled for them through my advisory at no cost.

Or if you have any questions at all, just send me a message. 

Fins ara, i bon viatge!

— Kevin