Valencia, a city in Spain, is currently in talks with Delta Air Lines to establish a direct flight from Valencia’s Manises Airport to New York City. The Valencian regional tourism department, led by Marian Cano, has sent a delegation to New York and Atlanta to present a strong case for Delta to choose Valencia over other competing Spanish cities. This move would position Valencia as a major gateway for international travel.

Delta Air Lines has a history with Valencia, having operated a transatlantic service between 2009 and 2012. However, due to profitability concerns, the service was discontinued. Now, nearly a decade later, talks have been renewed to revive this crucial link.

Juan José Cortés, the Director General of Innovation, is currently leading the meeting with Delta executives in the U. S. to assess the feasibility of a new nonstop service between Valencia and New York. This would significantly improve international connectivity and attract American tourists to the region.

While Alicante-Elche Airport was previously in the running for a U. S. route, it now appears to have fallen behind. This is not the first time Alicante has lost ground in the race for intercontinental connections. Both Málaga and Bilbao have secured direct links to New York, leaving Alicante without a long-haul U. S. route.

Valencia, despite having a smaller operational capacity than Alicante, offers more compelling reasons for Delta, especially from a market strategy perspective. The city boasts a robust blend of culture, business infrastructure, and cruise ship connectivity, making it a natural candidate for long-haul travel development. These factors were highlighted in a 2023 meeting with Delta, attended by then-tourism minister Nuria Montes and Valencia Chamber president José Vicente Morata.

Apart from Delta, the Valencian delegation also has broader objectives for this U. S. mission. They have a key meeting scheduled with Peggy Murphy, Vice President of the U. S. Tour Operators Association (USTOA), to expand the presence of the Comunidad Valenciana in the American travel market. In 2024, the U. S. ranked 14th among international visitor markets to Valencia, with 143,464 American tourists visiting the region.

According to the Tourism Comunitat Valenciana, American travelers are highly valued due to their strong spending power and growing interest in sustainable, premium travel experiences. This aligns with the Generalitat’s broader strategy to diversify tourism sources and hedge against possible future trade restrictions from the U. S. government. The tourism officials are especially keen on the American market’s loyalty and willingness to invest in meaningful experiences.

While the outcome of the Delta negotiations remains uncertain, it is clear that Valencia is making an assertive play to become Spain’s next U. S. -connected city. If successful, this would mark a major milestone for the region’s global connectivity and tourism economy.

Currently, Valencia is the only city in Spain in talks for a direct U. S. route.