Luxembourg is resuming direct flights to the US

The American airline United Airlines has officially announced the launch of a new daily route linking Luxembourg and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Flights are due to commence on 2 April 2027. Notably, this marks the resumption of direct transatlantic air services for the Grand Duchy after a 25-year hiatus. Previous attempts to organise such scheduled flights were made by the Icelandic carrier Icelandair as far back as the late 1990s. United Airlines will therefore become the first US airline to offer passengers a direct flight on this route, although the actual launch of the route is still subject to standard approval by the relevant government regulatory bodies.

At the same time, the plan is to operate the route using Airbus A321XLR narrow-body aircraft, which can carry up to 244 passengers. This variant of the aircraft features an extended range, making it technically ideal for transatlantic routes with moderate passenger traffic. The US Ambassador to Luxembourg, Stacey Feinberg (Stacey Feinberg). Emphasising the significance of the initiative, she noted that the two countries share many common interests, so it is vitally important to simplify the logistical arrangements for mutual visits. The addition of this route forms part of a large-scale programme to expand the US carrier’s route network, which had previously been announced in the media through a series of cryptic video teasers.

Although the arrival airport is in a neighbouring state, transport links to central New York remain well-organised and offer a range of options. The distance as the crow flies from Newark Airport to Grand Central Station in Manhattan is just over 18 kilometres. The simplest option for travellers is the Newark Airport Express shuttle bus, which costs $25 and takes around one hour and ten minutes. Rail travel, on the other hand, allows you to reach the city more quickly and for between $15 and $17, but it will require several changes: first on the airport’s internal AirTrain system, then on a commuter train to New York Penn Station, and finally on the Underground. The most expensive option remains a taxi ride, with a base fare ranging from $77 to $120, to which tolls and tips are traditionally added. However, the total journey time by car depends heavily on traffic conditions and can range from 35 to 70 minutes.