Just last week, United announced a round of new international routes for 2027, including European destinations no U.S. carrier currently serves nonstop, such as Marseille and Ljubljana.
As much as we’re excited about the prospect of flying direct from the East Coast to Slovenia for the first time in nearly four decades, without the usual faff of those painfully long layovers in Frankfurt or Munich, one particular island route caught our attention.
The American aviation giant is debuting a three-times-weekly summer service to this tiny Portuguese island in the heart of the North Atlantic, known for its Hawaii-like natural scenery, with dramatic volcanoes, black-sand beaches, and lava-carved swimming pools, a colorful colonial capital protected by UNESCO, surprisingly affordable prices, and most importantly:
If you hate long, soul-destroying journeys, getting there from Newark will take only 5 hours and 15 minutes.
One Of Europe’s Prettiest Islands A Short 5 Hour Hop Away
Terceira sits in the Central Group of Portugal’s remote Azores archipelago, a constellation of volcanic islands scattered across the North Atlantic, roughly 1,000 miles west of mainland Portugal.
The Azores are celebrated for their rugged nature and easygoing pace, but other than being a mere adventure playground for hiking enthusiasts, Terceira just happens to be one of the archipelago’s most culturally rich and visually striking islands.
It would have to bring a whole lot more to the table to warrant its own transatlantic flight than just greenery and volcanoes—let’s face it, we’re all here for the cobbles and Old World charm—but the good news is that Terceira is peppered with cheerful, time-warped colonial gems.
Angra do Heroísmo, its historic coastal capital, is a colorful maze of a city whose central zone is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
If you’ve ever visited colonial corners of Brazil, such as Paraty or Salvador, Angra feels like their older, mid-Atlantic cousin—the original Portuguese blueprint, if you will.
Angra Is Azorean Culture In A Nutshell
Think cobbled lanes, whitewashed façades trimmed in dark volcanic stone, brightly painted shutters, and family-owned tascas serving traditional Azorean fare.
Speaking of food, Terceira is probably one of the most affordable Atlantic island getaways you can find across the pond.
As remote as it may be, this is no artificial resort bubble. Terceira has a deeply rooted farming economy—dairy and cattle are particularly important—and fishing keeps local menus well stocked.
If the cattle-dotted fields and market counters around Angra aren’t enough of an indication, you’ll find an abundance of island-reared beef, buttery local cheeses, fresh tuna, seasonal produce, and seafood caught right offshore.
Sitting down at a local café and ordering a bica—that’s a small Portuguese espresso—with a spiced Dona Amélia cake will set you back roughly $3–6 on average.
Not too shabby for coffee and cake on a remote Atlantic island.
Average Prices In Terceira, Azores
Converted from euros into USD and rounded. Hotel and rental-car rates can swing considerably in July and August, particularly when booked at the last minute.
- Espresso or cappuccino: $1.50–3
- Coffee and a Dona Amélia cake: $3–6
- Takeaway bifana or toasted sandwich: $5–9
- Casual meal in a local restaurant: $11–18
- Three-course meal for two: $55–80, excluding wine
- Alcatra or seafood main course: $20–30
- Dona Amélia cake from a bakery: $2–4
- Local beer: $2–5
- Affordable 3-star hotel: $85–150 per night
- 5-star hotel: $175–280 per night
- Small rental car in summer: $45–65 per day
- Whale-watching excursion: $75–85 per adult
One Of The Safest Islands In Europe
Terceira is also one of the safest, least stressful corners of Europe.
Numbeo currently gives Angra do Heroísmo a remarkably low Crime Index of 13.2 and a Safety Index of 86.8.
You should take those particular numbers with a pinch of salt, as they’re based on submissions from only seven contributors, but they broadly reflect the blissfully low-drama experience travelers report on the island.
Opportunistic theft can happen anywhere, but violent crime is rare, and the big-city problems that plague other corners of the continent—street robberies, organized gang trouble, and extremist violence—hardly feature in the everyday visitor experience here.
This is a close-knit island community of roughly 54,600 people, where family roots stretch back generations and social cohesion remains strong.
Portugal generally has a well-earned reputation as one of Europe’s safer, more laid-back destinations, even beside Southern European heavyweights like Spain, Italy, and France.
The U.S. Department of State currently places Portugal at Level 1, meaning Americans are advised merely to exercise normal precautions, and that broadly tracks with how casual travelers perceive the country.
Portugal scores 86 out of 100 on Travel Off Path’s Traveler Safety Index, a traveler-led platform based on first-person reports from recent visitors.
Fly Nonstop To Terceira From Newark
Starting June 9, 2027, United will operate flights from Newark (EWR) to Terceira’s main, and only commercial airport, Lajes Airport (TER), with a frequency of three flights per week.
United will be the only U.S.-based airline flying nonstop from the United States to Terceira, though, interestingly, it won’t be your only nonstop option.
Portuguese carrier Azores Airlines already operates direct flights from Boston and New York-JFK, alongside service from Toronto in Canada, though frequencies and operating seasons vary.
And no, despite the itineraries you may find on its website, Azores Airlines does not currently fly nonstop from Los Angeles or San Francisco to Terceira. Those journeys involve a connection along the way.
If you’ve got MileagePlus points to burn, though, now’s the time:
Route Information
- Route: Newark (EWR)–Terceira/Lajes (TER)
- Launch date: June 9, 2027
- Frequency: Three flights weekly
- Confirmed operating window: June 9–September 5, 2027
- Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
- Tickets: Already on sale, with summer roundtrips appearing from around $920 in our latest spot-check
- Status: United will be the only U.S. airline flying nonstop from the United States to Terceira
Planned Schedule
- Newark → Terceira: Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
- 10:25 p.m.–7:40 a.m. the following morning
- Around 5 hours and 15 minutes
- Terceira → Newark: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- 9:40 a.m.–11:45 a.m.
- Around 6 hours and 5 minutes
No Polaris On This Route
The main caveat?
Unlike several of United’s other new European routes, Terceira will not receive the new A321XLR with Polaris lie-flat seats.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 is equipped with domestic-style United First recliners, Economy Plus, and standard Economy, plus seatback entertainment.
In other words, you can expect a domestic-style narrow-body experience across the Atlantic, rather than the full international bells and whistles.
Five hours is hardly an endurance test, but doing it overnight in standard Economy may still be a bit of a squeeze.
These Terceira flights are intended as a seasonal summer route, running from June 9 through September 5, 2027, although airline schedules are always subject to change.
Check Travel Rules For Europe Before Flying
Before you take off for Europe, make sure you’re up to speed with the latest entry and stay regulations applying to U.S. passport holders.
The European Union, including Portugal, has rolled out its new Entry/Exit System, which records the passport details, fingerprints, and facial images of non-European visitors traveling for short stays.
Your biometric information is registered when you first cross an external Schengen border, while subsequent entries and exits should involve a quicker verification against the record already stored in the system.
The rollout has caused some pretty ugly queues at airports across Europe, and Lisbon was among the trouble spots earlier in 2026, though Portuguese authorities say additional staff and new technology have since improved the situation.
When in doubt, use the Entry Requirement Checker to confirm the travel and visa rules that apply at your destination.
Terceira Beyond The Capital
Looking for things to do beyond Angra do Heroísmo?
Terceira’s main draw may well be its colorful, UNESCO-listed city, but the compact, 154-square-mile island as a whole is packed with eerie and otherworldly sights you won’t find anywhere else across the pond:
- Algar do Carvão: a rare volcanic chimney descending roughly 300 feet into the earth, complete with moss-covered walls, silica formations, and a seasonal underground lake
- Biscoitos Natural Pools: a series of wild-looking swimming pools carved into jet-black lava on the island’s northern coast
- Vila de São Sebastião: a sleepy historic village centered around one of Terceira’s oldest churches, built by the island’s early settlers and home to rare late-medieval frescoes
- Ti Chôa: tucked away in the rural community of Serreta, this highly regarded family-run eatery serves a traditional tasting menu featuring alcatra, pork specialties, fried cornbread, and local cheeses
- Mistérios Negros: a challenging 3.2-mile circular trail crossing endemic forest, tiny lakes, and barren volcanic domes formed during the 1761 eruption
- Whale watching from Angra Marina: boats head out in search of dolphins and sperm whales, which can be seen throughout the year, while blue, fin, and sei whales are most likely during the spring migration
In sum, this is a neat, compact mix of Hawaii-like scenery, European heritage, and proper Atlantic-island adventure.
And given that it’s only a five-hour hop halfway across the pond, you can pull off an epic island escape without the connection faff and jet-lagged, door-to-door marathon that usually accompany somewhere this remote.
Terceira has been sitting quietly in the middle of the Atlantic this whole time.
United has simply made getting there a doddle.
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