Malaga is once again linked to New York with a direct daily flight, as United Airlines resumes its seasonal route between the Costa del Sol and the US.

The first flight of the season departed from Newark Liberty International Airport on Thursday evening, landing in Malaga early on May 1.

Just a couple of hours later, the return service took off from the Costa del Sol, restoring the only direct connection between Andalucia and the US.

This marks the fourth consecutive year the route has operated, and it is scheduled to run until the end of September.

However, there is growing hope within the tourism sector that the service could eventually become year-round.

A final decision is expected in October, when the airline confirms its plans for 2027.

Early signs point to strong demand. The first inbound and outbound flights are running at around 90% and 85% capacity, according to United Airlines’ sales director for Spain, Antonio de Toro.

He told Diario Sur that bookings for the season are already outperforming last year, with demand remaining steady through to late September.

Last year, the airline offered around 51,000 seats on the route, a figure that represented a sharp increase compared to 2023, and this summer’s performance is expected to match or exceed those levels.

Interestingly, around 30% of tickets have been purchased in Spain, a higher proportion than on other United routes in the country.

That suggests strong interest not just from American tourists heading to the Costa del Sol, but also from Spanish travellers flying to the US.

While nearly half of passengers stay in the New York area, many continue on to other destinations such as Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas or Cancun.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.