Valencia, Spain's third-largest city, is struggling to attract airlines to establish transatlantic routes despite a decade-long effort by regional authorities. The region's popularity has led to record-high transatlantic travel demand to Spain, with new routes from both the US and Canada opening up constantly over the last few years. This increased demand has made smaller cities like Santiago de Compostela, Malaga, and Bilbao more attractive to airlines.
The regional government is increasing its international tourism promotion budget from €9 million to €19 million, with a focus on establishing new transatlantic routes to the US and Asia. This investment aims to attract higher-spending North American tourists and capitalize on Valencia's growing popularity as a destination.
Despite the efforts of local authorities, Delta Air Lines last served Valencia in 2012 with four weekly flights to New York, which were discontinued due to rising costs and weak demand. However, the airport has seen significant growth in recent years, handling over 12 million passengers in 2025, according to Eurostat.
The airport's capacity is being increased by €400 million to accommodate even more passengers in the coming decade. This investment will ensure that Valencia Airport can handle growing demand and remain competitive with other European airports.
A key challenge for airlines operating at Valencia Airport is the availability of aircraft and crew. However, despite this issue, airlines have found more lucrative markets to deploy their capacity in, such as those in Asia and the Middle East.
The mixed destination profile of Valencia, which includes leisure, business, and VFR demand, may also be a factor deterring airlines from establishing routes. Most routes to secondary European destinations started by US carriers are highly leisure-focused and seasonal.
United Airlines has been deploying its premium-configured Boeing 767s on many of these flights, further highlighting the competitive nature of the market. As a result, Valencia remains an attractive destination for business travelers, but airlines may be hesitant to establish routes due to the challenges of catering to this diverse demand profile.
The lack of transatlantic routes from Valencia has significant implications for the local economy and tourism industry. With over 100 million tourists expected in Spain this year alone, Valencia's inability to attract US carriers will likely have a negative impact on its growth prospects.
As the aviation industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether Valencia Airport can overcome these challenges and establish itself as a major hub for transatlantic travel.
Airlines prioritize lucrative markets over challenging ones.
