Starting Dec. 17, United Airlines will roll out two new international routes from Washington Dulles International Airport: a seasonal nonstop to Liberia, Costa Rica, and a year-round nonstop to Cartagena, Colombia. These will be the only nonstop flights to either destination from the region.
The dual launch expands United’s footprint at Dulles and gives D.C.-area travelers new direct access to two of Latin America’s most popular warm-weather destinations just in time for the winter holiday season.
Cartagena, Colombia
United’s new Dulles-Cartagena route will be the first nonstop service from Dulles to Colombia and the only nonstop from the Washington/Baltimore region to Cartagena. The flight will operate year-round, starting with four flights per week on a Boeing 737.
Lonely Planet named Cartagena a 2026 Best in Travel destination, citing its well-preserved Spanish architecture, vibrant culinary scene and rich history.
“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,” said Patrick Quayle, senior vice president of network planning and global alliances at United Airlines.
Customers on board will enjoy seatback screens at every seat with Bluetooth connectivity, larger overhead bins, and, soon, free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members.
Flights will operate Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. The IAD-CTG flight departs Dulles at 8:20 a.m. and arrives in Cartagena at 1:10 p.m. The return departs Cartagena at 4 p.m. and lands at Dulles at 8:40 p.m.
| 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 |
Liberia, Costa Rica
United’s new Dulles-Liberia route will be the only nonstop flight from Dulles to Liberia. The daily seasonal service will operate through Jan. 4 on a Boeing 737, timed for the peak winter travel season.
Liberia serves as a gateway to Costa Rica’s beaches and national parks. The new route joins United’s existing seasonal service to San José, giving D.C.-area travelers two nonstop Costa Rica options from Dulles.
“This new Liberia flight gives D.C.-area travelers a new nonstop way to trade our region’s winter weather for Costa Rica’s beaches and national parks,” said Henry Bird, managing director of United’s Dulles hub. “As the DMV’s largest and most on-time major airline, United continues to grow our Dulles hub with more nonstop destinations and an elevated travel experience.”
The flight departs Dulles at 8:51 a.m. and arrives in Liberia at 12:50 p.m. The return departs Liberia at 2 p.m. and arrives at Dulles at 7:35 p.m.
| Route | Start Date/Frequency | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
| IAD – LIR | Daily flight starts Dec 17 through Jan 4 | 8:51 | 12:50 | Boeing 737 |
| LIR – IAD | Daily flight starts Dec 17 through Jan 4 | 14:00 | 19:35 | Boeing 737 |
Continued Growth at Dulles
The two Dec. 17 launches are part of United’s broader expansion at Dulles this year. Together, Liberia and Cartagena represent the airline’s fifth and sixth new international destinations from the hub in 2026. The others are:
- Reykjavík, Iceland: began May 21, seasonal
- Halifax, Canada: began May 23, seasonal
- Québec City, Canada: began May 23, seasonal
- Los Cabos, Mexico: begins Oct. 25, seasonal
United, the biggest airline in the D.C. area, offers nonstop flights from Dulles to over 60 international destinations, including 19 in Latin America—more than any other carrier in the region.
