United Airlines Adds Cartagena Routes from Houston and Washington Dulles

United Airlines is growing its presence in Colombia with two new routes to Cartagena, giving travelers more direct options between the United States and the Caribbean coast of South America. The carrier will link Cartagena's Rafael Nunez International Airport with both George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Washington Dulles International Airport.

The expansion targets leisure demand during the peak winter travel season, when North American travelers head south for warmer weather. Cartagena, known for its colonial old town and beach resorts, has become one of Colombia's top international tourism markets.

What the new service looks like

United will operate the Houston to Cartagena route on a year-round basis, while the Washington Dulles service will run as a seasonal Saturday-only flight during the high season. Both routes are scheduled to begin in December 2025.

The Houston flight gives travelers from Texas and connecting passengers across United's domestic network a direct path to the Colombian coast. The Washington Dulles route offers East Coast travelers a nonstop option that previously required a connection through Bogotá y, Miami, or another hub.

Flight schedule

Travelers should verify exact times and operating days through United's booking platform, as schedules can shift before launch.

Aircraft and capacity

United plans to operate both routes with Boeing 737 aircraft, the workhorse of its narrow-body Latin American operations. The configuration includes United Polaris-style domestic first class, Economy Plus, and standard Economy seating, giving you a range of cabin choices on a flight of roughly four to five hours.

Why Cartagena

Cartagena has steadily climbed the list of preferred Caribbean destinations for North American travelers. The city's UNESCO-listed walled center, restored colonial hotels, and easy access to the Rosario Islands have helped drive a steady increase in international arrivals over the past several years.

Colombia's tourism authority, ProColombia, has been working to attract more direct service from the United States, particularly to secondary cities outside Bogotá y, Cartagena, along with Medellín, has received the bulk of new capacity from US carriers.

For United, the move expands a Colombia network that already includes service from Houston and Newark to Bogotá y. Adding Cartagena from two major hubs strengthens the carrier's position against competitors that have grown their Colombia operations aggressively, including American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, and Avianca.

Competitive landscape

Cartagena currently receives nonstop flights from multiple US gateways. American Airlines flies from Miami, JetBlue operates from Fort Lauderdale and New York JFK, Spirit serves the city from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, and Avianca connects Cartagena with several US cities through its Bogotáy Medellín hubs. United's entry into the market from Houston and Washington gives travelers in the central US and the Washington-Baltimore region a one-stop or nonstop alternative they did not previously have.

The Washington Dulles route is particularly notable because no other US carrier currently offers a nonstop flight between the DC area and Cartagena. East Coast travelers have typically connected through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Bogotáy to reach the city.

What it means for travelers

If you're planning a Cartagena trip, the new routes give you more flexibility on timing and routing. Houston travelers gain a daily option that fits cleanly with United's broader network of connections from the West Coast, the Midwest, and the South. Washington-area travelers get a Saturday departure that aligns with typical week-long vacation patterns.

MileagePlus members can earn and redeem miles on both routes, and the flights will likely participate in United's award chart for Caribbean and northern South America destinations. Travelers using Star Alliance partners, including Avianca, may also find improved connectivity to other Colombian cities through Bogotá y, once they arrive in the country.

Booking is expected to open through United's standard channels, with fares becoming available several months ahead of the launch date. As with most new international routes, introductory pricing may appear during the first weeks of sale.

Looking ahead

United's Colombia push aligns with a broader trend among US carriers to expand service to leisure-driven Latin American markets. Demand for beach and cultural destinations in the region has remained strong, and Cartagena fits both categories.

Whether the Washington Dulles service moves beyond seasonal Saturday operations will likely depend on load factors during the initial high-season period. If demand holds up, United could expand frequencies or extend the operating window into shoulder seasons. For now, travelers have two new ways to reach one of Colombia's most popular cities directly from the United States.