From Bilbao to New York: New routes fo Split Airport this year

Split Airport “Sveti Jeronim” continues to strengthen its position as one of Croatia’s fastest-growing airports, with rising passenger numbers and major new air connections announced for the coming seasons.

According to data from Split Airport, more than 3.8 million passengers passed through the airport during 2025, representing a 6 per cent increase compared to 2024. This growth confirms a strong recovery and continued expansion following the pandemic years.

Passenger traffic at Split Airport has been on a steady upward trend, with the exception of 2020, when traffic dropped to 674,000 passengers due to COVID-19.

In 2021, numbers rose to 1.577 million, followed by 2.908 million in 2022. By 2023, the airport had already surpassed pre-pandemic figures, handling more than 3.358 million passengers, according to Večernji list.

Expectations for the current year are highly optimistic, supported by the announcement of several new routes. Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling will introduce a new direct service between Bilbao and Split, starting on 16 June and operating until 13 September.

The route will run twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Sundays, further expanding Split’s links with Spain. This will be Vueling’s third route from Split, alongside existing services to Barcelona and Rome.

First Direct Transatlantic Flight in Split’s History

The most significant announcement, however, is the introduction of Split’s first direct flight to the United States. United Airlines will launch a seasonal direct service between New York and Split, marking a historic milestone for both the airport and Croatian aviation.

The route will operate from 30 April to 6 September 2026, with three weekly flights. Departures from Split are scheduled for Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:00.

United Airlines will deploy Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, configured with an increased number of business class seats, offering 167 seats per flight in each direction. Over the season, the airline plans 57 return rotations, providing a total of 19,038 seats on the route.

With this new service, Split becomes the second Croatian city with a direct air link to the United States. Dubrovnik previously introduced transatlantic flights in 2019 with American Airlines to Philadelphia, which were suspended during the pandemic.

Since 2021, Dubrovnik has re-established seasonal direct links to New York, primarily operated by United Airlines.

The introduction of a direct New York–Split connection represents a major step forward not only for Split Airport but also for Croatia’s tourism sector, which continues to see growing interest from American travellers.

Industry expectations are high that the new route will further boost arrivals, extend the tourist season, and strengthen Croatia’s position as an increasingly popular destination for visitors from the United States.