United Airlines will start year-round nonstop service to Cartagena, Colombia from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and Washington Dulles International Airport on December 17, 2026. Each route will operate four times weekly during the winter season on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays using Boeing 737 aircraft.
Flight Schedules and Operations
The Washington Dulles to Cartagena flight departs at 8:20 a.m. and lands at 1:10 p.m., with return flights leaving Cartagena at 4:00 p.m., arriving back at 8:40 p.m. From Houston, departures are at 9:35 a.m. with arrivals in Cartagena at 2:50 p.m., while return flights leave Cartagena at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in
Houston by 5:45 p.m. These scheduled times support United’s hubs for domestic connections.
Network Connectivity and Access
These new routes connect Cartagena to two major United hubs, facilitating one-stop itineraries from over 70 cities across the United States. United currently offers nonstop flights from Houston to 57 Latin American and Caribbean destinations and flies nonstop to 18 such destinations from Washington Dulles. Cartagena will become United’s third Colombian destination, joining existing service to Bogotá and Medellín.
Cartagena as a Destination
Cartagena is recognized as one of the fastest-growing Caribbean tourist destinations, noted for its colonial architecture, historic hotels, and expanding culinary scene. The city’s central districts — including
Centro Histórico, San Diego, Getsemaní, and Bocagrande — offer restaurants such as Celele, Carmen Cartagena, La Cevichería, and Mar y Zielo and historic lodging options like Casa San Agustín, Casa Pestagua, Hotel Las Islas, and the recently opened Four Seasons Cartagena. Nearby island resorts in the Rosario Islands and Barú Peninsula complement the urban offerings.
United’s Expansion and Passenger Impact
The new nonstop services extend United’s long-standing investment in Colombia and the Latin America network, which spans over 30 years. According to Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network planning and global alliances, “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.”
Passengers benefit from direct flights that eliminate previous layovers through Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Panama City, or Bogotá. The year-round schedule enhances travel options outside the traditional December-to-April Caribbean season, improving access to the Colombian Caribbean from both the Mid-Atlantic and Texas regions.
Aircraft Features
United will operate the Cartagena routes using Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with seatback entertainment screens and Bluetooth connectivity, enabling passengers to connect personal headphones directly. The aircraft also include
enlarged overhead bins allowing each passenger to bring one standard roll-aboard bag. United plans to continue equipping aircraft with Starlink internet, providing complimentary Wi-Fi to MileagePlus members as the fleet update progresses.
