United Airlines Is Launching New Nonstop Routes to Morocco, the Philippines, and Colombia

07.03.2024 - 15:33 / cntraveler.com / Patrick Quayle / Airlines

United Airline's industry-leading global route network is set to expand even further with the launch of three exciting new international flight routes.

Later this year, the Chicago-based carrier will begin offering nonstop flights to Marrakesh, Morocco; Cebu, Philippines; and Medellín, Colombia. United will be the first airline to offer direct flights between the US and Marrakesh, and the only US carrier to fly to Cebu.

The three new routes bring United's nonstop service to 134 international destinations across 67 countries—reaching more destinations across the Atlantic and Pacific than all other US carriers combined. That includes flights to 9 destinations that no other carriers serve from the US mainland, such as Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Providing service to exciting destinations like these is part of the airline's strategy “to curate the best experience for our passengers to earn or redeem miles and be able to take them places that no other US airline can go,” Patrick Quayle, United's SVP of global network planning and alliances, told Condé Nast Traveler.

Below, we break down each of United's new international routes launching in 2024 by start date, airport, and frequency—plus, where you should stay in each city.

Starting October 24, United will offer three direct flights per week between Newark Liberty International Airport and Marrakesh.

Beginning October 24, 2024, United will become the first carrier to directly connect the US and Marrakesh, a vibrant Western Moroccan city that's winning over travelers with a new wave of charming hotels, chic design boutiques, and enticing restaurants. The flights will operate three times weekly on a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, with 46 Polaris Business and 22 Premium Plus seats.

Meryanne Loum-Martin, whose boutique hotel, Jnane Tamsna, a preferred hideaway for artists and writers in the Palmeraie, suggests spending a day in Marrakesh by first having breakfast in the medina, shopping in Sidi Ghanem in the afternoon, and visiting the Dar El Bacha-Musée des Confluences museum before savoring local flavors at Dar Zellij for dinner. Stay at one of the new hotels in the medina, like Izza, Riad Alena, or Maison Brummell Majorelle.

Medellín is known as the “city of eternal spring” for its year-round warm weather.

United will offer daily service from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Medellín on Boeing 737 aircraft beginning October 27, 2024. Currently, most US flights to Medellín depart from Miami, where JetBlue, American, Spirit, and Delta partner LATAM currently offer direct service.

On top of year-round warm weather, the “city of eternal spring” is a laidback alternative to well-established Bogota.