From Tuesday, 2 April, a new daily direct flight will connect Luxembourg with the United States, linking Luxembourg Airport (Findel) to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, just outside New York City.
The United Airlines service is set to arrive in Luxembourg around 9am and depart for Newark at about 10am, operating with an Airbus A321XLR that can carry nearly 200 passengers.
Minister for Mobility Yuriko Backes described United’s decision to launch the new route as "good news for the country’s connectivity", highlighting it as proof that Luxembourg remains an attractive hub for international business and travel.
Her optimism is shared by Lorenzo Di Loreto, Chief Operating Officer at lux-Airport, who stressed that in addition to the country’s strong financial and economic sectors, the choice of the new Airbus A321XLR was crucial. According to Di Loreto, this aircraft is particularly well suited to smaller markets like Luxembourg, offering economic and operational advantages for such routes.
Luxair has also welcomed the arrival of United’s first direct service at Findel. "United is one of the founding members of Star Alliance, and as Luxair is also part of the Miles & More programme, they are the best partner we could imagine", said Luxair CEO Gilles Feith.
He added that Luxair is keen to open discussions with United to explore ways of supporting the new service and connecting passengers to the transatlantic flight.
Feith emphasised that Luxair does not view United as a competitor, noting that the national airline currently lacks the appropriate aircraft for such a long-haul route. United, for its part, operates one of its largest hubs at Newark, offering a wide range of onward connections throughout the United States.
Feith even considers Newark to be a strategic choice over JFK, as it provides quick access to Manhattan and significantly more connection opportunities for travellers.
Lorenzo Di Loreto explained that attracting a new airline to Luxembourg is not solely a decision for lux-Airport. "We are in constant contact with many airlines", he said, noting that the airport provides carriers with market data and information about the potential of different destinations.
Airlines then use this data to establish their business plans and decide whether a route is economically viable. Di Loreto cautioned that “it should not be expected that the aircraft will be fully booked from day one.” However, once the new route becomes established, thousands of passengers could benefit annually.
Asked whether Findel can handle the increased pressure, Di Loreto acknowledged that the new service will "certainly put us under a bit of pressure". He pointed to the airport’s master plan for expansion, which is already in place. Mobility Minister Yuriko Backes, for her part, is confident that Findel is ready for the new link.
She noted that while special security requirements must be met, "with the infrastructure we have today, that is not a problem". The first works to expand the terminal are due to begin by the end of the year, which will also see the installation of new security scanners.
With Etihad scheduled to launch direct flights between Luxembourg and Abu Dhabi from late October, United’s arrival marks another major international carrier expanding its offering at Findel.
For Lorenzo Di Loreto, this serves as a confirmation of the airport’s existing strategy to further enhance Luxembourg’s connectivity – but always in proportion with the available infrastructure.
