United Airlines is launching year-round nonstop service to Cartagena, Colombia from both Houston Intercontinental and Washington Dulles on December 17, making the Colombian coastal city its third destination in the country alongside Bogotá and Medellín.
Both routes operate four times weekly on Boeing 737 aircraft, running Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From Dulles, departure is at 8:20 AM arriving Cartagena at 1:10 PM, with the return leaving at 4:00 PM and landing back at IAD at 8:40 PM. The Houston schedule departs at 9:35 AM, arrives Cartagena at 2:50 PM, with the return at 2:20 PM arriving IAH at 5:45 PM.
The flights connect Cartagena to more than 70 U.S. destinations through United’s Houston and D.C. hubs — a meaningful network reach for a city that has been increasingly difficult to access nonstop from the East Coast and Texas. Lonely Planet named Cartagena a 2026 Best in Travel destination, citing its Spanish colonial architecture, culinary scene, and Caribbean waterfront. The onboard product includes seatback screens with Bluetooth, larger overhead bins, and Starlink Wi-Fi coming for MileagePlus members.
Why It Matters: Cartagena has been on the radar of serious travelers for years, but the connection options have lagged the interest. United adding nonstop service from two major hubs this winter gives the East Coast and Texas markets a direct shot at one of South America’s most distinctive cities — without routing through Bogotá or Miami.
Source: United Announces New Nonstop Flights from Houston and Washington D.C. to Cartagena
