Frontier Starts Orlando to Colombia Flights on 10 December

COLOMBIA · NEW US FLIGHTS

A US low-fare airline adds Medellín, Bogotá and Cartagena to its map in December, just ahead of the year-end high season.

Frontier Airlines will start its first Orlando to Colombia flights on Thursday, 10 December, when a daily service to Medellín opens. Bogotá follows on Monday, 14 December, and Cartagena on Saturday, 19 December, all from Orlando International Airport.

For US travellers, the routes add a low-fare option to what Bogotá’s city government calls Colombia’s three main airports. All three routes are still subject to government approval, and Frontier has not yet published flight times.

What Frontier Announced

Frontier, which markets itself as America’s low-fare airline, announced the routes on Thursday, 10 September, at Orlando International Airport. The airline described them as its first-ever service to South America.

Medellín, served through José María Córdova International Airport, gets a daily flight from 10 December. Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport starts with six flights a week on 14 December, rising to daily on Saturday, 6 March 2027.

Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez International Airport gets one flight a week from 19 December. Frontier says frequencies and times may change and sends travellers to flyfrontier.com for details.

Tyri Squyres, a Frontier vice president, said the airline sees “strong, unmet demand for low-cost travel between Orlando and Colombia.” Lance Lyttle, chief executive of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said the extra airline options give travellers more choice.

Why the Orlando to Colombia Routes Matter

The United States is already Colombia’s largest international air market. Colombia’s trade ministry counts about 350 weekly flights to 12 US cities, El Universal, a Cartagena newspaper, reported.

The ministry said Frontier’s three routes will reach up to 15 weekly flights by March 2027. That is about 4 percent of today’s total, but it adds a new low-fare competitor.

Bogotá leans heavily on US visitors. The head of the city’s tourism institute, Ángela Garzón, said the US accounts for over 23 percent of air bookings there.

She put the Orlando flight at just over four hours, roughly as long as New York to Denver. She added that Bogotá drew about 1.9 million foreign visitors in 2025.

Cartagena’s airport, on the Caribbean coast, handled a record 7,756,298 passengers in 2025, up 3.27 percent, its operator said. International passengers rose 4.9 percent to 1,752,903, or about 4,800 a day.

The new flights land in high season. Cartagena’s airport moved 705,858 passengers in December 2025, about 22,800 a day.

Cartagena also gets a second new US link that week. United Airlines starts nonstops from Houston and Washington Dulles on Thursday, 17 December, four times a week each.

The Three Airports and Getting Into Town

In Cartagena, Rafael Núñez sits inside the city, in the Crespo district. Its operator puts it 10 minutes from the historic centre and 15 from the hotel zone.

The airport runs two authorised taxi stands, at the domestic and the international exits. It recommends always using them for trips into the city.

In Bogotá, flights use El Dorado, the capital’s international airport. The city’s TransMilenio bus network charges a flat COP 3,550 (about US$1.10) per ride, according to the operator.

In Medellín, international flights such as Frontier’s use José María Córdova International Airport. Arrange your transfer with your hotel or another prearranged service before you land.

US government staff in Colombia may not use street taxis or any public transport that is not prearranged, under State Department rules. Visitors can follow the same rule by booking rides in advance.

Entry Rules for US Citizens

US citizens need no visa for tourist stays of 90 days or less, the State Department says. Stays may total up to 180 days in a calendar year.

Travellers must complete Colombia’s free online Check-MIG form between one and 72 hours before the flight. The passport must be valid for the whole stay, and six months’ validity is recommended.

Keep one blank passport page for the entry stamp, and carry proof of onward travel. The State Department warns that Colombia may deny entry without a return ticket.

Dual US-Colombian citizens must enter and leave Colombia on their Colombian passport. Cash above US$10,000 must be declared on entry and on exit.

Safety and the State Department Advisory

The State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest and kidnapping. Level 3 is the second-highest of its four levels.

It lists Arauca, Cauca outside Popayán, Norte de Santander and the border region with Venezuela as Level 4, Do Not Travel. Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena are not in those areas.

The advisory says violent crime, including murder, assault and robbery, is common in many areas. It tells visitors to keep a low profile, not display signs of wealth and enrol in STEP, its alert service for travellers.

Costs in US Dollars

Frontier’s launch fares started at US$99 one way to Bogotá, US$129 to Cartagena and US$169 to Medellín. That sale closed on Wednesday, 16 September, and covered travel only from 14 January to 5 April 2027.

Current fares are not in the announcement and move with demand. Every Frontier fare includes one free personal item up to 18 by 14 by 8 inches; carry-on and checked bags cost extra.

Cartagena’s airport lists an international airport tax of US$54 per passenger for 2026. Check the fare breakdown for it before you pay.

Colombia’s official exchange rate for Wednesday, 7 October was COP 3,216.01 per US dollar, the basis for conversions in this guide. At that rate, COP 10,000 is about US$3.11.

What It Means for You

If you live in Central Florida or can connect through Orlando, the Orlando to Colombia routes add a low-fare option from December. Price your trip with bags included, because a carry-on can change the total.

Booking a first-week flight carries a small risk of schedule changes, because the routes still await government approval. Keep plans flexible around the launch dates, especially over Christmas.

For Cartagena, one flight a week leaves little room if a trip is disrupted. Know your fallback, such as United’s new Houston and Dulles flights or a connection through Bogotá.

Whatever you book, fill in Check-MIG before flying and carry a return ticket. Check the State Department advisory again shortly before departure.

What Is Not Known

Frontier’s announcement gives no departure or arrival times. It also does not name the aircraft for the Colombia routes.

The routes remain subject to government approval in both countries. Frontier’s newsroom carried no update on that approval by Wednesday, 7 October.

The announcement gives only a start date for Cartagena, not the regular weekday of the weekly flight. It also did not publish fares for the December launch weeks.

What Comes Next

Medellín opens on Thursday, 10 December, Bogotá on Monday, 14 December and Cartagena on Saturday, 19 December. Bogotá moves to daily flights on Saturday, 6 March 2027.

The new routes do not change Colombia’s entry rules or the State Department advisory. They add seats and price competition, not new paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Frontier’s flights from Orlando to Colombia start?

Medellín starts on Thursday, 10 December 2026, Bogotá on Monday, 14 December and Cartagena on Saturday, 19 December. All three routes are subject to government approval.

Do US citizens need a visa to visit Colombia?

No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days. You must complete the free online Check-MIG form between one and 72 hours before your flight.

Is it safe to fly to Bogotá, Medellín or Cartagena?

The State Department rates Colombia Level 3, Reconsider Travel, and none of the three cities is in its Level 4 areas. It advises visitors to keep a low profile and not display signs of wealth.

Sources: Frontier Airlines, route announcement (10 September 2026); Frontier Airlines, bag options; Bogotá city government; El Universal (Cartagena); Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, 2025 passenger figures; Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, location; Aeropuerto Rafael Núñez, taxis; United Airlines, Cartagena routes; US State Department, Colombia travel advisory; US State Department, Colombia entry requirements; TransMilenio fares; Colombia official exchange rate (TRM), datos.gov.co (all accessed 7 October 2026).