United flies (nonstop) from Bari to New York: here's how many points you need to book your ticket

From May 1, 2026, United Airlines will inaugurate the first direct flight between New York Newark (EWR) e Bari (BRI), operated four times a week During the summer season.

The aircraft is configured with three classes of service - Business, Premium Economy and Economy - offering several comfort options even on leisure flights to southern Italy.

The capital of Puglia thus becomes the sixth Italian destination in the United network, following Rome, Milan, Venice, Naples and Palermo, confirming the company's growing focus on the Italian market and Mediterranean Europe.

The dates and the car

The link will be operational from May 1, 2026, with frequency four times a week, on days Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday (no flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays).

Departure from Newark is scheduled at 16:45 with arrival in Bari at 07:45 the next day (flight UA380), while the return will take off from Bari at 09:45, arriving in Newark at 14:00 (flight UA381).

Prices

Early simulations show that the new link Bari-Newark is already available for booking in the group's major frequent flyer programs Star Alliance.

On the United Airlines, the flight of the May 2, 2026 (UA381) turns out to be bookable from 37,100 points + 36 euros of taxes in Economy Class for a one-way ticket. In contrast, the cash price for the same route, round trip, starts at about 675 euro.

The program Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer applies a slightly lower rate, with 30,500 points + 36 euros, while on Air Canada Aeroplan the same route starts from 40,000 points + about 130 Canadian dollars.

With Miles & More, the Bari-Newark direct flight is available from 25,000 points + 205 euros. The fees are therefore higher than in other programs, but with the same amount of points you can choose a flight with stopover in Europe, reducing the balance needed by about half-at the expense, however, of the overall duration of the trip.

In all cases, the Bari-Newark link is already fully integrated into the network Star Alliance, confirming the actual availability for premium redemptions in the 2026 summer season.

Checkmate to Neos

With this move, United Airlines enters with a strong leg on a route hitherto operated only by Neos, a company that in recent years had focused on connecting southern Italy with North America.

The difference, however, is substantial: United is a global scale carrier, part of the Star Alliance, with an extensive network and strong alliances that enable it to offer immediate connections throughout the United States and beyond.

For Neos, accustomed to a more leisure and seasonal model, the arrival of a player of this magnitude represents direct and potentially disruptive competition-especially since United can rely on a network of alliances and passenger feeds that go far beyond the single summer route.

In conclusion

After Delta in Sardinia, now United in Puglia. There are 8 Italian regions that will have at least one direct connection to North America during 2026, of course we are talking about flights designed for tourists heading to our country, but also opportunities for us Italians to take advantage of many flights from the airport "close" to home to fly to Canada or the US.

• New Routes