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With the land mass of the United Kingdom making up 93,723 square miles, the country’s smaller size means that almost all transatlantic flights from North America go through one of the major airports in London. But amid growing demand for direct access to smaller European cities, all three major U.S. airlines have in recent years significantly expanded their network of flights into Edinburgh, Scotland. At different points of the year, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines fly into the city from airports in Newark, Washington, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta, among others. American Airlines launched a direct flight to the capital of Scotland from Philadelphia in May 2025, and next year, will add a flight between Edinburgh and New York. Set to start on May 23 for the 2026 summer travel season, the new flight from John F. Kennedy Airport will run on the new Airbus A321XLR plane of which the carrier recently took possession from the aircraft maker. The first flight on the 155-seat long-range jet, designed specifically to accommodate a large, premium cabin, is scheduled for Dec. 18 from New York to Los Angeles. “The right aircraft for the route”: American Airlines The New York-Edinburgh flight, meanwhile, is scheduled as a seasonal route that will end on Oct. 24, alongside the Philadelphia flight on a Boeing 787-8 with 234 seats. “After a successful summer in Edinburgh, American is excited to offer a second route to give travelers more access to one of their favorite destinations,” American Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning Brian Znotins said in a statement. “With the game-changing Airbus A321XLR now in our fleet, we could not be more excited to connect the Big Apple with Auld Reekie [an old nickname from the city in Scots language]. This is the right aircraft to open this route and with an elevated premium experience for travelers to enjoy.” The new Airbus A321XLR plane put toward this route will have 20 Flagship Suite business-class seats, 12 premium economy seats, and 123 regular seats in the main cabin. Over the coming years, the Fort Worth-based carrier will receive more of the new aircraft it ordered in 2019 and will increasingly use them for routes with high demand from business-class travelers. Edinburgh touted as “vibrant city with access to the Scottish highlands” Back in August, American Airlines also announced a spate of new summer 2026 routes to Václav Havel Airport (PRG) and Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD) in Budapest from Philadelphia, alongside new routes to other European cities such as Milan, Athens, and Zurich. Tickets for the Edinburgh flight will be available from Nov. 3. More on travel: Major airline launches surprising flight between Las Vegas and Paris United Airlines CEO gives stark warning on Olympic Games The highest rooftop in Barcelona is in a surprising place US government issues sudden warning on Switzerland travel To promote it, American highlighted the city’s strong literary traditions and Scotland’s role in the origin of golf, which makes it of particular interest to a specific type of American traveler. “A vibrant city with access to the Scottish Highlands that has inspired writers throughout history, Edinburgh is a popular tourist destination for travelers looking to get a little more literary flair out of their European vacation,” American said of its choice to expand service to the destination.
