United Airlines Starts Service between Houston and Havana, Cuba

HOUSTON, Dec. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- After months of planning and anticipation, the first flight from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Havana is scheduled to depart today, connecting Cuba to Texas' largest city and United's premier Latin American gateway.

United will operate Saturday nonstop flights from Houston in addition to its daily nonstop service from Newark/New York via Newark International Airport (EWR).

"United has officially launched our first flights from the U.S. into Havana," said Steve Morrissey, United's vice president of regulatory and policy. "Houston has long been our Latin American and Caribbean gateway, so the importance of this route, for both our airline, employees and our customers, can't be understated. It has the power to open the door to Cuba for travelers in a large portion of the U.S., and that's something that we're very excited about."

Since the DOT announced its preliminary Havana route awards in July, United has been working closely with the Cuban government and local airport service providers to prepare for the start of its operation into José Martí International Airport, the airline's 14^th new international route launched this year.

Saturday nonstop service from Houston (IAH)

Recognized by "Trusted Traveler Network" as one of the most international-friendly points of entry for foreign travelers, Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport is United's gateway to Latin America. United offers 91 daily nonstop flights to 52 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean from its Houston hub. Bush Intercontinental will be an important gateway for service to Havana and will directly connect 20 markets across the central and western United States to Cuba with just one stop. The Cuban-American population in the Houston metropolitan area ranks among the top ten cities in the country.

Daily nonstop service from New York/Newark (EWR)

United's daily nonstop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport will provide an important gateway to Cuba from the Newark/New York City region, the largest metropolitan area in the country and home to the second-largest population of Cuban Americans. For more than 20 years, United has offered the Newark/New York City region the most flights to the most destinations around the world.

United will operate both services with Boeing 737 aircraft.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate more than 4,500 flights a day to 339 airports across five continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 720 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737NGs, 787s and 777s, as well as six used Airbus A319 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines