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United Airlines is expanding its Latin America network with the launch of the first-ever nonstop flights from the United States to Cartagena, Colombia. These will fly from both Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). I’ve been to Cartagena and it’s a great city to explore.
Beginning December 17th, the airline will operate both routes year-round, with 4x weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays using Boeing 737 aircraft. The new service makes United the first US airline to offer nonstop flights to Cartagena from both Houston and Washington. This provides travelers with easier access to one of Colombia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. Through United’s hubs, passengers will also be able to connect to more than 70 cities across the United States.
Cartagena joins Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport (BOG) and Medellín’s Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) as United’s third destination in Colombia. This further strengthens the airline’s presence in the country after more than three decades of service. The timing aligns with growing demand for travel to Cartagena, which has become one of Latin America’s hottest destinations. The city was recently named one of “Best in Travel 2026” destinations by Lonely Planet thanks to its colorful colonial architecture, Caribbean coastline, culinary scene, and rich cultural history.
Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances at United Airlines, said:
Colombia has been an important part of United’s Latin America network for more than 30 years, and our new service to Cartagena reflects our continued investment in the country and commitment to offering customers new and distinct travel experiences. As our third destination in Colombia, complementing our service to Bogota and Medellín, Cartagena gives our customers access to a different side of the country while making it easier for travelers across North America to experience one of the Caribbean’s most iconic destinations.”
David Kinzelman, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at United Airlines, added:
The architectural beauty, vibrant culture and thriving culinary scene are just a few reasons why travel experts say Cartagena should be on people’s bucket list this year. By flying direct, we’ll give our customers even more time to see the sights and along the way, they’ll enjoy all the value we pack into each flight – seatback screens, Bluetooth connections, larger overhead bins and a suite of tools to make the journey easier in the United app.”
Until now, many travelers from Washington and Houston had to connect through Bogotá or another regional hub to reach Cartagena. The new nonstop flights eliminate that extra stop and makes the historic Caribbean city even more accessible just ahead of the busy winter travel season.
Anthony’s Take: With Colombia continuing to attract more leisure travelers from the United States, United’s latest expansion reinforces its position as one of the leading US carriers serving Latin America (and the one with the best route network globally).
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
