Airlines Add Routes and Seats Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Carriers are increasing capacity and launching new flights to 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the June-July tournament. At least 5 million travelers are expected to fly across North America during the event.
Airlines are adding seats, larger aircraft, and new routes to transport fans to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. At least 5 million people are expected to fly for the tournament. Carriers are responding with extra flights and temporary route changes.
Airlines said it is adding 27,000 seats on 12 routes, including two temporary services from Atlanta and New York's LaGuardia Airport to Kansas City for the quarterfinal round. The airline is also replacing some regional jets with larger narrowbody aircraft on select flights.
United Airlines launched a special portal listing additional routes between Guadalajara and Chicago, and between Los Angeles and Kansas City. Delta Air Lines has increased capacity to several host cities.
Airways will operate three special flights from Suriname to Miami in June, each lasting about eight hours with stops in Aruba and Curaçao. One-way fares start around $440. GOL Linhas Aéreas is adding hundreds of flights to Orlando and Miami. Some one-way fares from Manaus to Miami are listed from $765.
Avianca is adding roughly 3,000 flights to host cities and increasing service from Guatemala City and San Salvador to Los Angeles. The airline will also operate the only nonstop flight between Guatemala City and San Francisco.
Maroc is operating special flights to New York, Atlanta, and Boston, with round-trip fares starting near $1,000. EgyptAir launched a new nonstop route from Cairo to Los Angeles in May. Cabo Verde's national airline resumed nonstop service to Rhode Island on May 4 after an eight-year pause. The route is scheduled to continue after the tournament.
