Colombia has become one of the most popular destinations in Latin America for retirees, expats, business travelers, and tourists. Whether you're planning to retire in Colombia, explore the Caribbean coast, or visit Bogotá on business, getting there nonstop is easier than ever — the route map keeps growing, even as the airlines flying it have changed dramatically.
Big changes since our last update: Spirit Airlines — previously a major low-cost option from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando — ceased all operations on May 2, 2026. Avianca has backfilled aggressively, adding new US gateways like Boston, Chicago, Tampa, and Dallas, and United is adding seasonal Cartagena service from two hubs. Here's the current picture.
Major US Cities With Direct Flights to Colombia
Miami (MIA)
- Airlines: American Airlines, Avianca, LATAM
- Destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Cali, Barranquilla
- Why Miami? Still the undisputed #1 US gateway to Colombia, with multiple daily departures and the most Colombian destinations. If your city doesn't have a nonstop, connecting through Miami is usually the fastest path.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Airlines: Avianca, JetBlue
- Destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Cali
- Why FLL? With Spirit gone, Avianca and JetBlue have picked up the budget-friendly South Florida traffic. Avianca launched daily nonstops to Barranquilla and Cali in July 2026, making FLL the best US airport for Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific secondary cities.
New York City (JFK & EWR)
- Airlines: Avianca and JetBlue (JFK), United (Newark)
- Destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena
- Why NYC? The Northeast's Colombian community keeps demand high — JFK has nonstops to all three major Colombian cities, and Newark adds a United option to Bogotá.
Orlando (MCO)
- Airlines: Avianca, LATAM
- Destinations: Bogotá, Medellín (seasonal)
- Why Orlando? Central Florida keeps its Bogotá link with two carriers competing on the route, which helps fares.
Houston (IAH)
- Airlines: United
- Destinations: Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena (seasonal December–June)
- Why Houston? United's Latin America hub — and as of the 2026–27 winter season, it adds Cartagena, United's third Colombian destination.
Atlanta (ATL)
- Airlines: Delta
- Destinations: Bogotá, Cartagena
- Why Atlanta? Delta's mega-hub is the Southeast's link to Colombia, with Bogotá served year-round.
Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Airlines: American Airlines, Avianca
- Destinations: Bogotá
- Why Dallas? A newer battleground — Avianca now flies DFW–Bogotá head-to-head with American, giving Texas and the central US a real choice of carriers.
Washington, D.C. (IAD)
- Airlines: Avianca, United
- Destinations: Bogotá, Cartagena (United, seasonal December–June)
- Why D.C.? Avianca connects the capital to Bogotá year-round, and United's new seasonal Cartagena nonstop starts December 2026.
Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD) & Tampa (TPA)
- Airlines: Avianca
- Destinations: Bogotá
- Why these matter: All three are recent Avianca additions — New England, the Midwest, and Florida's Gulf Coast now reach Colombia without connecting.
Quick Reference: US → Colombia Nonstops (July 2026)
| US City | Bogotá | Medellín | Cartagena | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | AA, Avianca, LATAM | AA, Avianca | AA, Avianca | Cali, Barranquilla |
| Fort Lauderdale | Avianca | Avianca, JetBlue | JetBlue | Cali, Barranquilla (Avianca) |
| New York JFK | Avianca | Avianca | Avianca, JetBlue | — |
| Newark | United | — | — | — |
| Orlando | Avianca, LATAM | Avianca (seasonal) | — | — |
| Houston | United | United | United (Dec–Jun) | — |
| Atlanta | Delta | — | Delta | — |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | AA, Avianca | — | — | — |
| Washington Dulles | Avianca | — | United (Dec–Jun) | — |
| Boston | Avianca | — | — | — |
| Chicago O'Hare | Avianca | — | — | — |
| Tampa | Avianca | — | — | — |
Routes and seasons change with airline schedules — always confirm on the airline's site before booking. No US West Coast city currently has a nonstop to Colombia; LAX travelers connect through Houston, Dallas, or Miami.
What Changed in 2026
- Spirit Airlines shut down entirely (May 2, 2026) after two bankruptcies — its Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando Colombia routes are gone. Avianca and JetBlue absorbed most of that traffic.
- The LAX–Bogotá nonstop is gone. West Coast travelers now connect through a hub — Houston and Dallas are typically the fastest.
- Avianca expanded hard: new US gateways (Boston, Chicago, Tampa, Dallas) plus daily Fort Lauderdale service to Barranquilla and Cali launched July 2026.
- United goes seasonal to Cartagena from Houston and Washington Dulles starting December 17, 2026 — its third Colombian destination.
Why This Matters for Tourists, Expats, and Retirees
- Convenience: Nonstop flights cut total travel time and remove missed-connection risk — a bigger deal than ever now that fewer budget carriers pad the schedules.
- Competition where it counts: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, JFK, and now Dallas have multiple carriers per route, which keeps fares honest.
- Community: The cities with the most service — Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York — also have the largest Colombian communities, which makes relocation logistics smoother.
Landing in Colombia? We Handle the Ground Game
Getting here is the easy part. Once you land, the paperwork starts — visas, apostilled FBI background checks, certified translations, bank accounts. That's what we do, in English, on WhatsApp, with real humans in Colombia and Washington, D.C.
- FBI background checks with mobile fingerprinting — results in 24–48 hours
- Visa application support
- Certified translations accepted by Cancillería
Questions about your move? Message us on WhatsApp — we answer in real time.