United Airlines announced its largest international network expansion in company history, adding 10 new cities and three new routes across Europe and Asia. The carrier also debuted the 'Born to Explore' A321XLR aircraft at Newark Liberty International Airport on Aug. 25, 2026.

The expansion builds on a decade of growth, with United adding 58 international destinations since 2017. As the world's largest airline, United now flies to more than 160 international destinations. The new services are scheduled to start as early as March 2027.

Route Expansion Details

United will introduce flights to 10 new international cities, eight of which are not served by any other U.S. airline. The new destinations include:

• Okinawa, Japan
• Toulouse, France
• Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
• Marseille, France
• Ibiza, Spain
• Valencia, Spain
• Terceira, Portugal
• Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Olbia (Sardinia), Italy
• Catania (Sicily), Italy

Additionally, United announced three new nonstop routes: Los Angeles to Osaka, Japan; Washington, D.C. to Milan, Italy; and Denver to Paris, France. The airline also plans to resume flights from San Francisco to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Fleet Update

The 'Born to Explore' A321XLR is the newest international aircraft in United's fleet. It will serve some of the newly announced cities. The aircraft features lie-flat seats in United Polaris and Economy Plus seats with extra elbow room across an open middle seat.

Latino Professionals in Aerospace (LPA) announced that 16 airlines and 65 exhibitors will participate in the LPA Aerospace Industry Expo 2026, presented by United Airlines, on Sept. 17-18 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. The event has expanded to a two-day format to accommodate record attendance and growing demand from employers and job seekers across the aerospace sector.

The expo serves as a major hiring and networking gathering, with recruiting teams from leading airlines conducting interviews and hosting career presentations. United Airlines acts as the title sponsor, continuing its support as a major sponsor over the past three years. The expansion reflects LPA’s evolution since launching in 2023, with attendance nearly doubling each year; the 2025 event attracted more than 2,600 attendees.

Participating Airlines

Sixteen airlines are confirmed participants in the expo, providing direct access to recruitment opportunities. The participating carriers include:

Anel Ruiz, Managing Director of People Impact at United Airlines, stated that the partnership focuses on investing in people and the future of aviation by connecting employers, students, and professionals. "By bringing together employers, students and professionals from across the industry, we’re helping create connections that can change careers and strengthen aerospace for years to come," Ruiz said.

Event Growth and Mission

In 2025, LPA expanded its mission beyond pilots to include engineers, maintenance professionals, technicians, students, and other professionals across the aerospace ecosystem. This year’s theme, RISE, celebrates opportunity and professional growth within the Latino aerospace community. Claudia Zapata-Cardone, President of Latino Professionals in Aerospace, emphasized the impact of these connections on individual careers and industry representation.

Attendees can also participate in the LPA Member Town Hall and Welcome Reception on Sept. 17, and the LPA Aerospace Gala on Sept. 18. The gala will recognize scholarship recipients and celebrate achievements across the industry. Registration and bundled packages are available through the organization’s website.