Cartagena de Indias and Guanacaste concentrate a significant part of July’s international air transport news. The former is gaining new connections from Spain and the United States, while the latter is adding direct access from Washington and Ottawa for the North American high season.
The month also confirms several broader movements: Spain is adding an option to El Salvador, GOL is taking its first steps in long-haul operations from Rio de Janeiro, and LATAM is once again linking South Africa with Brazil. The announcements therefore do not only concern major hubs, but also destinations where direct access concretely changes the way itineraries can be built.
Cartagena de Indias attracts new international capacity
Cartagena de Indias stands out as one of the most visible stories of the month. World2Fly inaugurated its direct flight between Madrid and Cartagena on July 3, with one weekly frequency operated on Fridays by Airbus A350-900, configured in Business and Economy classes.
This route restores direct access between Spain and Cartagena, without passing through Bogotá. For Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the interest is immediate: the city has its own long-haul access, better suited to stays centered on the north of the country or itineraries combining Cartagena, Mompox, Barranquilla, Santa Marta or La Guajira.
Madrid (MAD) – Cartagena de Indias (CTG) – Fridays:
- Flight 2W 2095: MAD 14:45 – CTG 17:50
- Flight 2W 2096: CTG 19:50 – MAD 11:50 (+1)
United Airlines will add two routes to Cartagena from December 17, 2026, from Washington Dulles and Houston Intercontinental. Both services will operate year-round, with four weekly frequencies at launch, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, aboard Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
With Washington, Cartagena gains new direct access to the northeastern United States and to United’s connections from Dulles. With Houston, the city joins one of the airline’s major hubs for Latin America. The route also complements United’s Colombian offer, already present in Bogotá and Medellín.
Washington Dulles (IAD) – Cartagena de Indias (CTG) – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from December 17, 2026:
- Flight UA 1533: IAD 08:20 – CTG 13:10
- Flight UA 1534: CTG 16:00 – IAD 20:40
Houston Intercontinental (IAH) – Cartagena de Indias (CTG) – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from December 17, 2026:
- Flight UA 577: IAH 09:35 – CTG 14:50
- Flight UA 578: CTG 14:20 – IAH 17:45
The movement is not limited to Cartagena. Air Europa is also working on a future direct route between Madrid and Barranquilla. The announcement should still be treated as a prospect, as no launch date, frequency or schedule has yet been published. If confirmed, this route would make Barranquilla a new direct access point to the Colombian Caribbean from Europe, alongside Cartagena.
Our article: Cartagena de Indias: the city you discover by taking your time
Guanacaste adds Washington and Ottawa for its high season
In Costa Rica, Guanacaste/Liberia airport will receive direct flights from Washington Dulles for the first time. United Airlines plans to operate daily service between December 17, 2026 and January 4, 2027, a period focused on the year-end high season. The route will be operated with Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
This service complements United’s already significant presence in Guanacaste. The airline connects the Costa Rican airport with Houston and several seasonal hubs in the United States. Washington Dulles adds direct access from the U.S. federal capital, but also from Virginia, Maryland and part of the northeastern United States.
Washington Dulles (IAD) – Guanacaste/Liberia (LIR) – daily, from December 17, 2026 to January 4, 2027:
- Flight UA 1547: IAD 08:51 – LIR 12:50
- Flight UA 1548: LIR 14:00 – IAD 19:35
Canada brings a second announcement for Guanacaste. WestJet will launch a new direct route between Ottawa and Guanacaste/Liberia from December 20, 2026. The service will operate every Sunday until April 4, 2027, with a 174-seat Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The announcement is part of WestJet’s winter strategy toward sun destinations. For Guanacaste, it expands access from eastern Canada, complementing the Canadian winter markets already connected to Costa Rica.
Ottawa (YOW) – Guanacaste/Liberia (LIR) – Sundays, from December 20, 2026 to April 4, 2027:
- Flight WS 2078: YOW 08:00 – LIR 13:00
- Flight WS 2079: LIR 13:50 – YOW 20:40
El Salvador gains two new connections from Spain
Iberojet will add El Salvador to its long-haul network from September 2026. The airline will connect San Salvador with Madrid and Barcelona with two weekly frequencies. This new operation follows the expansion of the air agreement between Spain and El Salvador, which allows the number of authorized frequencies between the two countries to increase.
Madrid (MAD) – San Salvador (SAL) – Sundays, from September 13, 2026 to February 14, 2027:
- Flight E9865: MAD 17:35 – SAL 22:25
San Salvador (SAL) – Madrid (MAD) – Tuesdays, from September 13, 2026 to February 14, 2027:
- Flight E9866: SAL 05:35 – MAD 22:45
Barcelona (BCN) – San Salvador (SAL) – Mondays, from September 14, 2026 to February 15, 2027:
- Flight E9867: BCN 21:25 – SAL 02:35 (+1)
- Flight E9868: SAL 01:25 – BCN 18:50
Air Europa will also add San Salvador to its long-haul network from December 17, 2026. The airline plans three weekly frequencies on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The operation will be carried out with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft.
For Air Europa, this opening complements its presence in Central America, where the airline already serves Honduras and Panama with direct flights.
Madrid (MAD) – San Salvador (SAL) – Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays:
- Flight UX 153: MAD 01:45 – SAL 06:30
- Flight UX 154: SAL 12:10 – MAD 05:05 (+1)
Brazil adds New York and Cape Town to its long-haul news
LATAM Airlines is adding a direct route between Cape Town and São Paulo/Guarulhos. Operations began on July 1, 2026, with three weekly frequencies on Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The route directly connects South Africa with Brazil and strengthens São Paulo’s position as a connecting hub for South America.
This route is particularly relevant within LATAM’s intercontinental network. It shortens travel between southern Africa and Brazil, while opening connections to other Brazilian, Chilean, Argentine or Peruvian destinations via Guarulhos.
Cape Town (CPT) – São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
- Flight LA8061: CPT 15:50 – GRU 19:50
São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Cape Town (CPT) – Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays:
- Flight LA8060: GRU 22:45 – CPT 10:55 (+1)
GOL, for its part, inaugurated its first long-haul flight between Rio de Janeiro/Galeão and New York/JFK on July 8. The route will operate until October 22, 2026, with three weekly frequencies. In this first phase, the service is operated by a Wamos Air Airbus A330-200 under an ACMI agreement, before the gradual arrival of the A330neo aircraft planned by GOL.
New York/JFK (JFK) – Rio de Janeiro/Galeão (GIG) – Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from July 8 to October 22, 2026:
- Flight G3 7001: JFK 23:00 – GIG 09:55 (+1)
Rio de Janeiro/Galeão (GIG) – New York/JFK (JFK) – Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays:
- Flight G3 7000: GIG 21:55 – JFK 06:55 (+1)
The July announcements show a month strongly focused on direct tourism access. Cartagena gains weight in the North American and European networks, Guanacaste prepares for a high season with better links to the United States and Canada, while San Salvador, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo each add one piece to their international connectivity. For itineraries to Latin America, these movements matter mainly for their practical effect: fewer connections, more entry points and a clearer reading of travel seasons.
Photos: Air Europa | United Airlines
