Algarve tourism officials excited about “extraordinary potential” for region
The launch of the first direct air link between the Algarve and the United States of America was celebrated last weekend with the landing of the first United Airlines plane at Faro Airport.
At approximately 9.30am on Saturday (May 17)., a Boeing 757-224 touched down on runway 28 at Faro Airport, marking the beginning of a seasonal route connecting the Algarve to Newark International Airport. The airline will operate four flights per week through the end of the IATA summer season.
“It is with great joy that we are here inaugurating this flight which just arrived,” said United Airline’s European spokesperson, Guido Araújo. “This route is part of a very deliberate and sustainable expansion strategy. We started modestly in 1997 with seasonal flights from Lisbon to New York. Today, we celebrate seven routes to Portugal across five destinations.”
When asked why United chose Faro for this expansion, Araújo pointed to clear passenger demand, naming the Algarve as one of the “main requests”.
“Many of our customers already travel through Lisbon and continue on to the Algarve. This flight offers them a direct entry point to the region,” he said.
Ticket sales are “well within expectations,” with Americans unsurprisingly comprising the largest share of ticket buyers. “Demand from the U.S. has been solid, even slightly higher than last year – which was already a fantastic year,” he noted.
Despite current political and economic uncertainties in the United States, Araújo remains optimistic. “We monitor macroeconomic conditions closely,” he said, adding that the airline’s passenger capacity has been growing steadily since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
As for the future of the route, United is taking a wait-and-see approach. “We always start with a seasonal flight and evaluate performance,” Araújo said, adding that depending on the outcome, United may increase frequency, extend the operation, or even deploy a larger aircraft.
“Dream come true”
Tourism officials in the Algarve are also confident about the success of the new route, deeming it a “dream come true” for the region.
“It’s a goal we’ve all worked hard towards in recent years,” said André Gomes, president of the regional tourism board (RTA) and association (ATA), praising the national tourism board and Faro Airport for their efforts as well. “It is extremely satisfying and gratifying to see this day come,” he added.
According to Gomes, the direct flights will bring more than 25,000 new seats to the region, representing “extraordinary potential” which he hopes the region will capitalise on.
“Americans’ will to visit the Algarve is growing every year, and every month the number of American tourists visiting the region is growing,” the tourism chief insisted, brushing away fears over the potential risks of the new route failing to prosper.
Gomes expressed strong confidence that the route could be extended beyond the summer season. “My confidence is based on the fact that we’ve seen other routes that started out seasonal and immediately became year-round,” he said, citing the route to Ponta Delgada in the Azores. He acknowledged that frequency of flights might drop after summer but emphasised the importance of maintaining a year-round presence, even with fewer weekly flights.
While Americans have already been travelling to the Algarve via alternative routes, be it through Canada, Lisbon or the Azores, André Gomes is confident that the new airline will play a decisive role in the continued growth of the American market in the region.
The new service operates on a split-week schedule. Flight UA 282 departs Faro on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 11.40am, arriving at Newark International Airport at 3pm local time.
In the reverse direction, flight UA 281 leaves Newark on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 9.35pm, landing in Faro at 9.50am the following day.
