United Airlines adds Mexico's Riviera Nayarit in 3-route winter expansion
United Airlines will offer travelers a new way to the Riviera Nayarit on Mexico's Pacific coast this winter.
The Star Alliance carrier will add Tepic International Airport (TPQ) to its map with a Saturday-only nonstop from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) beginning Dec. 20. The flight — on an Embraer E175 — will operate through the winter.
United is the first U.S. airline to fly to TPQ, which sits near the Riviera Nayarit coast, north of Puerto Vallarta. The airport does boast a nonstop to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Mexican budget airline Volaris, schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows.
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Tepic is United's second new destination in Mexico this year. The airline became the first U.S. carrier to Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM) on the Oaxacan coast when it began flights from IAH in April.
American Airlines will join United in Puerto Escondido in December.
In addition to Tepic, United will also add two new routes to Mexico and the Caribbean: Denver International Airport (DEN) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) and Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic on Oct. 26. Both routes will operate daily, with Mexico City on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Punta Cana on a 737 MAX 9.
United's Latin expansion comes as U.S. carriers seek to offset a weaker domestic market with international expansion. During the first six months of 2025, the number of Americans traveling abroad increased 2.4% compared to last year, while the number of foreigners traveling to the U.S. fell 1.2%, according to the latest U.S. International Trade Administration data.
Typically, the majority of international travelers fly on an airline from their home country. That means the increase in Americans traveling abroad is more likely to benefit U.S. airlines, while the decline in foreign visitors would disproportionately affect international airlines.
United's latest winter expansion announcement follows this pattern. In addition to the three new routes, the airline is adding flights on 33 existing routes to Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes more frequencies on three recently launched routes, including IAH to José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) in Medellin, Colombia; the previously mentioned IAH to PXM route; and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) on the island of Dominica.
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Below are the details of United's three new Latin and Caribbean routes this winter:
- IAH-TPQ: Saturdays from Dec. 20, 2025, on an E175
- DEN-MEX: daily from Oct. 26, 2025, through March 27, 2026, on a 737-8
- DEN-PUJ: daily from Oct. 26, 2025, on a 737-9
Related reading:
- United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more
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- United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
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