United Airlines is introducing a direct Newark–Ljubljana route from May 2027.
Slovenia is getting a direct air link with the US what the tourism sector has been wishing for for years. United Airlines plans to connect Newark and Ljubljana with four flights a week from 12 May 2027, opening up significantly easier access to one of the fastest-growing long-haul markets for Slovenian tourism.
United Airlines has included Ljubljana among the ten new international destinations it will add to its network during 2027. This is the largest international network expansion in the carrier's history.
Four flights a week with a Boeing 767-400ER
Flights between Newark and Ljubljana are scheduled to operate four times a week using a Boeing 767-400ER. According to its own announcement, United will thereby be the only US airline with direct flights between the US and Slovenia. All newly announced routes are still subject to regulatory approvals.
For Slovenian incoming tourism, the choice of Newark is also important. It is one of United’s main hubs and its most important departure point for Europe, so the new route opens up not only the New York market but also a large number of connections within the USA.
The American market is already growing
The new route comes at a time when demand from the US is already showing good results. According to data from the Slovenian Tourist Board, American guests recorded 11.11% more overnight stays in 2025 than the previous year. In 2024, the number of overnight stays by tourists from the US was 25% above the 2019 level.
A direct flight can therefore have a broader impact than simply an increase in arrivals to Ljubljana. Bled, the Slovenian coast, alpine destinations, and the boutique hotel segment gain easier access to guests who often come to Europe on longer, multi-destination trips.
United further strengthens its presence in the Adriatic region
Ljubljana is not an isolated move in United's regional strategy. The airline has also confirmed the return of seasonal Newark–Split flights during the summer of 2027, following the introduction of that route in 2026.
For travel agencies, DMCs and hotels in Slovenia, the new route therefore opens up space for stronger packaging of premium and individual travel from the US, as well as combined programmes for Slovenia, Croatia and the rest of the region. Direct transatlantic accessibility thus becomes a concrete competitive advantage, especially in a market where demand is already growing.
