United’s New Cartagena Flights Open a Two-Hub Shortcut for U.S. Travelers

United Airlines is adding Cartagena, Colombia, to its international map with new nonstop flights from Houston and Washington Dulles, a move that gives U.S. travelers two direct gateways to one of the Caribbean coast’s most in-demand city-and-beach destinations.

The airline announced that service from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to Rafael Nunez International Airport (CTG) in Cartagena is scheduled to begin on December 17, 2026, subject to government approval. United says both routes will operate year-round, starting with four weekly flights during the winter season.

What United Is Adding

The new routes are designed around two of United’s most important connecting hubs. From Houston, the airline is adding a direct link between Texas and Colombia’s Caribbean coast. From Dulles, the route creates a nonstop option for the Washington, D.C., region and a new one-stop itinerary for travelers across the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and other U.S. markets that connect through IAD.

United said both routes will use Boeing 737 aircraft. Initial flights are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The published schedule shows morning departures from IAD and IAH to Cartagena, with afternoon return flights from CTG back to the United States.

IAD-CTG: scheduled to depart Washington Dulles at 8:20 a.m. and arrive in Cartagena at 1:10 p.m.
CTG-IAD: scheduled to depart Cartagena at 4:00 p.m. and arrive at Dulles at 8:40 p.m.
IAH-CTG: scheduled to depart Houston at 9:35 a.m. and arrive in Cartagena at 2:50 p.m.
CTG-IAH: scheduled to depart Cartagena at 2:20 p.m. and arrive in Houston at 5:45 p.m.

Those times may change before launch, and United noted that the routes remain subject to government approval. Still, tickets are being marketed through United’s sales channels, giving travelers and advisors a long booking window for winter trips.

Why Cartagena Matters for the U.S. Market

Cartagena is not just another dot on the route map. For U.S. leisure travelers, it sits in a sweet spot between Caribbean vacation, Latin American city break and heritage tourism. The city combines beaches, colonial architecture, restaurants, nightlife, island day trips and cruise activity, making it attractive for couples, families, friend groups and premium leisure travelers who want a warm-weather trip with more city texture than a traditional resort stay.

Until now, many U.S. travelers reaching Cartagena have had to build trips around connections through other U.S., Colombian or regional hubs. Nonstop service from Houston and Dulles reduces that friction. It can shorten total travel time, make long-weekend itineraries more realistic and give travel advisors another way to package Colombia trips around a single U.S. connection.

The Houston route is especially useful for travelers across Texas, the Gulf Coast, the Mountain West and parts of the central United States. The Dulles route adds a strong East Coast and Mid-Atlantic option, including connections for travelers from smaller markets that already use IAD for international trips.

A Bigger Latin America Play

United already serves Bogota and Medellin, and the new Cartagena flights make CTG the airline’s third destination in Colombia. The carrier said it has served Colombia for more than 30 years and framed the new flights as part of a broader investment in Latin America.

The airline also said the new service will connect Cartagena with more than 70 destinations across the United States through Houston and Washington Dulles. That matters for the travel industry because the route is not relying only on local Houston or D.C. demand. It is built to pull passengers from a wider U.S. network into a destination that has strong leisure appeal but fewer direct U.S. access points than larger Latin American capitals.

For hotels, tour operators and destination sellers in Colombia, the added lift could help support more U.S.-origin bookings in the winter season. For U.S. travelers, it increases competition and choice at a time when airfare, connection reliability and trip length remain central planning concerns.

What Travelers Should Check Before Booking

The new flights make Cartagena easier to reach, but they do not remove the need for careful planning. The U.S. State Department currently lists Colombia at Level 3: Reconsider Travel, citing crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and natural disasters, with some areas carrying higher risk. Cartagena is a major tourist destination, but U.S. travelers should still review the full advisory, monitor local conditions and consider travel insurance that covers medical care, evacuation and trip changes.

Entry rules also matter. According to U.S. travel guidance, U.S. citizens generally do not need a Colombian visa for tourism or business stays of 90 days or less, but they must travel with a valid U.S. passport. Colombia also requires travelers to complete its free Check-Mig form before flights to or from the country, and travelers may be asked to show proof of onward or return travel.

Because the new United flights are scheduled to launch during the winter travel period, travelers should watch for final government approval, schedule adjustments and aircraft changes before locking in nonrefundable hotels or tours. Before departure, use live airport tools such as the IAH online flight board, the IAD online flight board and the CTG online flight board to confirm timing.

How to Plan the Ground Side

The practical impact of a nonstop route often shows up after landing. A direct afternoon arrival in Cartagena can make same-day hotel check-in easier, but travelers should still allow time for immigration, baggage claim and airport transfers. In Houston, passengers connecting from other U.S. cities should build enough buffer into the outbound trip, especially during winter weather periods and peak holiday travel days.

Travelers starting or ending their trip in Houston can also review IAH airport transfer and taxi options before choosing between a ride to the city, a hotel stay near the airport or a connection to another flight.

The Bottom Line

United’s Houston and Dulles flights to Cartagena give U.S. travelers a more direct path to one of Colombia’s most recognizable leisure destinations. The routes are not scheduled to start until December 17, 2026, and they remain subject to approval, but the announcement is already meaningful for winter vacation planning, Latin America travel sales and U.S. network competition.

For travelers, the key takeaway is simple: Cartagena may soon be easier to reach from much of the United States, but the best trip will still depend on confirming the final flight schedule, understanding Colombia’s entry steps and taking the State Department advisory seriously when building the itinerary.