Faro, Portugal, Oct. 21, 2025 (Lusa) - Flights between New York and Faro will continue in 2026, according to United Airlines' decision, the president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA) told Lusa on Tuesday. The route will resume in May.
"It's clear that the operation is going very well [...]. United [Airlines] has already announced that there will continue to be this route in 2026," said André Gomes, emphasising that the North American is not the traditional tourist, looking only for sun and beach, bringing added value to the region.
"They also have a considerable capacity to spend in the region and are looking, above all, for authentic, more immersive experiences" that put them in touch with traditions and culture, he said.
André Gomes explained that Americans don't just come to see the Algarve region but are "long-haul tourists" who end up seeing the whole country. Many are also looking for a second home or even considering moving to the Algarve.
"What this flight has allowed us to do is effectively allow them, if before they either came via Lisbon or Porto and then came to the Algarve, now it allows them, many of them, to even start their visit to the country via the Algarve and then go up that way to Porto, and get to know the country," he added.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) on overnight stays by tourists in Portugal in August 2025, the growth of the North American market (up 9.8%) and the Canadian market (up 8.5%) stood out among the 10 main source markets in August.
André Gomes also emphasised that last August, compared to the same period the previous year, the Algarve was the region that contributed most to the country's overall revenue - 36.3% of total revenue, according to INE.
On the other hand, he emphasised, the 3.4% year-on-year increase in the number of national tourists in August contradicts the "narrative that the Portuguese are moving away from the Algarve" and that the Algarve is "too expensive" for the Portuguese.
"This clearly demonstrates the consolidation of the Algarve as the preferred holiday destination for so many thousands of Portuguese and international tourists, which has once again been the case this year," he concluded.
The US carrier will resume seasonal flights to Faro on 15 May 2026. On 17 May, it started a direct link between Newark and Faro's Gago Coutinho Airport.
FPB/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
