United Airlines (UA) announced on Monday, June 29, 2026, that it will launch nonstop flights from Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Washington, D.C., to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG), starting December 17. The airline made the announcement through an official press release published from its Chicago headquarters. United said the new routes make it the first U.S. carrier to offer year-round nonstop service between these hubs and Cartagena.
Each route will operate four times a week during the winter season, using Boeing 737 aircraft on both legs. The launch reflects rising demand for travel to Colombia’s Caribbean coast and extends a presence in the country that the airline says spans more than 30 years. Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances at United, framed the route as part of the airline’s continued investment in Colombia, where it already serves Bogotá and Medellín.
What United’s New Routes Actually Offer
United will operate both routes on a fixed weekly pattern, departing from each U.S. hub four times a week through the winter season.
- Washington Dulles to Cartagena (IAD–CTG): departs 8:20 a.m., arrives 1:10 p.m.; return departs Cartagena 4:00 p.m., arrives Dulles 8:40 p.m. Both legs run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
- Houston to Cartagena (IAH–CTG): departs 9:35 a.m., arrives 2:50 p.m.; return departs Cartagena 2:20 p.m., arrives Houston 5:45 p.m. Both legs run on the same four weekly days.
- Both routes use the Boeing 737, fitted with seatback screens at every seat, Bluetooth connectivity, and larger overhead bins.
- Schedules remain subject to change, and the routes are subject to government approval, according to the United press release.
Cartagena becomes United’s third destination in Colombia, joining Bogotá and Medellín. The new service connects the city to more than 70 destinations across the United States through United’s hub network, the airline said.
Why United Picked Cartagena Now
Cartagena has built momentum as a travel destination over the past several years, and United’s timing follows specific external recognition of the city. Lonely Planet named Cartagena a 2026 Best in Travel destination, citing its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, vibrant culinary scene, and rich history, the airline noted in its release.
David Kinzelman, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer at United, connected that recognition directly to the airline’s product strategy. “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,” he said, pointing to seatback screens, Bluetooth connections, and larger overhead bins as part of that value. The airline also plans to offer free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members on the route once that rollout reaches the aircraft involved.
Until now, travelers from Houston or Washington wanting to reach Cartagena had to connect through Bogotá or another regional stop. The new nonstop service removes that extra leg entirely, a point several aviation outlets highlighted as the most practical upside of the announcement.
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United’s Existing Strength in the Region
The Cartagena launch builds on a network position United already considers a competitive advantage in Latin America. United said it offers more flights to Latin America than any other airline from both Texas and the Washington, D.C. area, citing nonstop service to 57 destinations from Houston and 18 from Dulles.
Quayle linked the new route to that broader regional footprint, saying Colombia “has been an important part of United’s Latin America network for more than 30 years,” and that the Cartagena addition reflects continued investment in the country. The structure of the announcement signals that United views Cartagena less as a standalone leisure play and more as an extension of an already-dominant Houston and Washington gateway strategy into Latin America.
How this Compares with Rival Carriers Serving Colombia
United’s move intensifies competition on a route map that already includes several established players. According to coverage from Travel And Tour World, United’s new Cartagena service puts it in direct competition with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Colombian carriers Avianca and Copa Airlines, all of which currently serve travelers moving between the U.S. and Colombia’s Caribbean coast through connecting itineraries.
What separates United’s entry is the nonstop structure itself. Rather than routing passengers through Bogotá or Medellín as other airlines’ connection-based itineraries typically require, United’s direct flights cut a leg out of the journey entirely from two of its largest U.S. hubs.
Aviation analysts quoted in trade coverage suggested this kind of point-to-point access could help Cartagena grow into a more prominent Caribbean gateway over time, following a trajectory some compared to the growth previously seen at Cancún and Punta Cana.
Fares and How to Book
Early published fares show a clear price gap between the two new gateways. According to travel website Upgraded Points, one-way economy fares start at $664 from Washington, D.C., and $824 from Houston, while business class starts at $848 from Washington and $1,200 from Houston, making the Dulles routing the cheaper option in both cabins.
| Route | Start Date & Frequency | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAD → CTG | From Dec. 17, 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) | 08:20 | 13:10 | Boeing 737 |
| CTG → IAD | From Dec. 17, 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) | 16:00 | 20:40 | Boeing 737 |
| IAH → CTG | From Dec. 17, 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) | 09:35 | 14:50 | Boeing 737 |
| CTG → IAH | From Dec. 17, 4x weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday) | 14:20 | 17:45 | Boeing 737 |
Award availability is also already listed. MileagePlus award bookings start at 27,200 miles one-way in economy and 70,000 miles one-way in business class, per the same source. Both cash and award tickets are available now for booking on United.com and the United app, even though the first flights do not depart until mid-December.
What Comes Next for United
United’s new Cartagena service launches just ahead of the Northern Hemisphere’s peak winter travel season, positioning the route to capture demand from travelers planning trips around the December and January holidays. The carrier has not announced whether frequencies will increase beyond the initial four-times-weekly schedule, and both routes remain formally subject to government approval before they can begin operating as planned.
For now, the announcement marks a network expansion that fits within United’s wider 2026 pattern, having also added new long-haul service to Tokyo-Narita and Sapporo this year while continuing its rollout of Starlink-enabled Wi-Fi across the fleet. Cartagena’s addition gives the airline a third Colombian gateway and a head start on a coastal market that rival U.S. and Colombian carriers have not yet served with direct flights from Houston or Washington.