United Airlines expands Cuba presence with more daily flights between Houston and Havana

United Airlines today increased service between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Havana’s José Martí International Airport. Subject to government approval, United will operate the new daily service with either Boeing 737-800 mainline aircraft or Embraer E175 regional aircraft operated by Mesa Airlines as United Express. United had been operating its one time per weekly service between the Houston hub and Havana.

“This expansion to Havana will provide significant public benefits to our city, region and state. As a diverse global city – in which many people speak Spanish – we are heavily reliant on international travel for our economic success,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Worldwide access to Houston by air helps bring financial health back to Houston after Hurricane Harvey. The addition of Havana to Houstonians’ travel options will also help us build cultural bridges with our neighbor nation across the gulf.”

United one of the first U.S. airlines to provide commercial service to Cuba in more than half century

Credit: usatoday.com /  On Aug. 31, 2016, JetBlue became the first airline to operate commercial service between the U.S. and Cuba in more than five decades, after President Obama re-established diplomatic relations with the Communist island.

“United’s new daily service to Cuba will offer more opportunities to connect our customers traveling from Houston and the central and western United States directly to Havana,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s vice president of International Network. “Houston is United’s gateway to Latin America and its convenient location offers customers easy access to connect to 44 destinations across our broad domestic network.”

Photo Credit: by Gary Raynaldo / United check in at Newark Liberty International Airport for flights to Havana, Cuba.

Credit: Houstonairports.com / L to R, Houston Councilwoman Karla Cisneros, Mayor Sylvestor Turner, Aviation Director Mario Diaz, and City of Houston Chief Development Officer Andy Icken, celebrate United’s new flight between Houston and Havana, Cuba Dec. 5, 2016.

 

United began its first flight to Cuba from New York/Newark and Houston in December 2016, becoming one of the first U.S. airlines to provide commercial service to Havana – and the first airline to offer U.S.-Havana service from outside Florida.

Credit: Photo by Gary Raynaldo / United’s ticketing office in Havana, Cuba.

United’s presence in Cuba as an American carrier has been bold and dominant, while others continue to dip their feet into the waters. From Houston, United provides the only service to Havana from the entire central and western United States. In 2017, United Airlines opened its first city ticket office in Havana enabling United to provide Cubans and other international customers the opportunity to purchase travel on United Airlines.