United Airlines is expanding its Latin American footprint with new year-round, nonstop service connecting hubs in Texas and Washington D.C. to the Caribbean coast of Colombia.
The major commercial airline will begin operating direct flights from Houston Intercontinental Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport to Cartagena, Colombia, beginning Dec. 17. The new routes, announced Monday in a company press release, remain subject to government approval.
The flights are slated to operate four times a week during the upcoming winter season on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Flights departing from the Washington area will leave at 8:20 a.m. and land in Colombia at 1:10 p.m. Return flights will take off at 4 p.m. and arrive back at Dulles at 8:40 p.m.
Service out of Texas features flights departing Houston at 9:35 a.m. and arriving in Cartagena at 2:50 p.m. The return trips are scheduled to leave Colombia at 2:20 p.m. and land in Houston at 5:45 p.m.
All times are local and the schedule remains subject to change.
According to United officials, the carrier plans to maintain the routes on a year-round basis utilizing Boeing 737 aircraft with multiple in-flight amenities.
These flights will feature seatback screens with Bluetooth connectivity and larger overhead bins, officials said. The airline also stated that it will soon offer free Starlink satellite internet access to members of its frequent flyer program.
Read More: Starlink Wi-Fi coming to hundreds of American Airlines planes
Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of network planning and global alliances for United Airlines, said the new service marks the carrier’s third destination in Colombia, adding to existing flights to Bogota and Medellin.
“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,” Quayle said in a prepared statement.
Quayle added that the expansion provides travelers with an opportunity to see a different region.
“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,” Quayle said.
Cartagena is a globally recognized travel destination
Cartagena was recently named a top international travel destination for 2026, according to travel guide Lonely Planet. The South American port city located along the northern coast of Colombia, is globally recognized for its “well-preserved Spanish architecture, vibrant culinary scene and rich history.”
United senior vice president and chief customer officer David Kinzelman said of Cartagena:
“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.”
David Kinzelman – United Airlines
The Chicago-based carrier says it offers more flights to Latin America than any competing carrier operating out of Texas or the Washington area. The company reported that it currently flies to 57 destinations from its Houston hub and 18 locations from Dulles.
Read More: United Airlines says military pilot program has resulted in hundreds of new hires
Airline officials stated that the new routes will eventually connect Cartagena to more than 70 domestic destinations across the United States through layovers at the Houston and Washington hubs.
Here’s the full schedule for the flights:
| Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) | ||||
| Route | Start Date/Frequency | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
| IAD – CTG | Dec 17, 4x weekly service on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun | 8:20 | 13:10 | Boeing 737 |
| CTG – IAD | Dec 17, 4x weekly service on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun | 16:00 | 20:40 | Boeing 737 |
| Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Cartagena, Colombia (CTG) | ||||
| Route | Start Date/Frequency | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
| IAH – CTG | Dec 17, 4x weekly service on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun | 9:35 | 14:50 | Boeing 737 |
| CTG – IAH | Dec 17, 4x weekly service on Tues, Thurs, Sat, Sun | 14:20 | 17:45 | Boeing 737 |
United Airlines operates a massive global network, maintaining domestic hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington. The airline describes itself as the largest in the world based on available seat miles.
Additional details and booking information can be found on United Airlines’ website.
