Golfers across North America will soon have picturesque Madeira on their doorstep thanks to the launch of a new flight route next year by leading US operator United Airlines.

As global appetites rise to visit one of the world’s fastest-growing golf destinations, the Chicago-based airline will connect 89 airports in America to Madeira’s capital, Funchal, via Newark Liberty Airport.

Flying three days a week starting on June 7, 2025, the United Airlines flight will be the fourth direct service to operate from North America with flights already operating from New York (JFK), Boston and Toronto.

From Newark, passengers can fly to 89 airports across the US, Canada and Mexico with either United Airlines or a partner.

Marcel Fuchs, managing director of sales at United Airlines, said: "We are thrilled to announce our first continuous service between Madeira and New York/Newark, expanding further our route network from Portugal to the USA.

"For the summer of 2025, our customers in Portugal will benefit from an even greater choice of travel, with the opportunity of a direct service connecting Madeira to the United States, as well as the possibility of convenient connections through our New York/Newark to 57 destinations across America.”

Madeira’s international popularity with golfers has hit new heights in recent years as players flock to experience three world-class golf venues: the 27-hole Clube de Golf Santo da Serra, designed by prolific architect Robert Trent Jones; Cabell B. Robinson’s Palheiro Golf; and Porto Santo Golfe, which was created by Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros. Visiting golfers are encouraged to take advantage of the Madeira Golf Passport, which offers green fees and transport at all three courses for one price.

In addition, Ryder Cup legend and six-time Major winner Sir Nick Faldo is currently building the destination’s fourth course, Ponta do Pargo, which will open in 2026.

This month, Madeira will have the honour of hosting the prestigious World Golf Awards and World Travel Awards, a testament to the Portuguese archipelago’s rising status as a globally attractive landmark in sport and tourism. All three golf clubs, as well as Madeira itself, are in the running to earn one of the most prestigious honours in the industry.

Located 500km from the African mainland, Madeira’s sub-tropical climate is ideal for golf all year round. Away from the fairways, the archipelago is famed for its lush landscapes and produces more than 30 varieties of wine.

For more information on Madeira, please visit www.visitmadeira.com

• Madeira. Belongs to all is the consumer-facing brand of the Madeira Promotion Bureau, which aims to promote Madeira as a tourist destination to consumers and the travel trade.
• Madeira, otherwise known as ‘the islands of eternal spring’, is just a short, three-and-a-half-hour flight from London. It covers 740km2 and has a population of only 260,000. On the same latitude as Morocco, the Atlantic archipelago has a sub-tropical climate, a rich volcanic soil and a unique eco-system. It is one of the only places in the planet where banana trees grow next to vineyards.
• Located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland – and just 500km from the African continent – Madeira enjoys an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter, with very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity.
• In 1999, Madeira's indigenous forest, the Laurissilva, was declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The Madeira Natural Park is a protected area that covers around two-thirds of Madeira Island's territory, equivalent to 67% of its surface.
• The Madeira Golf Passport costs €280 and offers three rounds of golf at either Clube de Golf do Santo da Serra or Palheiro Golf. Plus, the courses will supply free transfers to and from the hotel. Additional rounds, including a day at Porto Santo Golfe, can be included for an upcharge.

For high-resolution imagery, please visit tinyurl.com/mr39hpu8

For more information on Madeira visit www.visitmadeira.com.