United Flies Houston to Santo Domingo From 18 December

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · TRAVEL

United Airlines adds a holiday-season link between Houston and the Dominican capital, running from 18 December to 3 January.

United Airlines will start flights from Houston to Santo Domingo on Friday, 18 December 2026, with three flights a week. Aerodom, the company that runs the Dominican capital’s main airport, confirmed the new route in August.

The service is seasonal and ends on Sunday, 3 January 2027. It targets the Christmas peak, when family visits and leisure trips are at their highest.

What United Announced

The flights link George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, one of United’s main hubs, with Las Américas International Airport in Santo Domingo. Dominican Today, an English-language news site in Santo Domingo, reported that United will use a Boeing 737 MAX 8.

Flights are scheduled to leave Houston in the afternoon and land in Santo Domingo at night. Return flights leave early in the morning, which allows onward connections across United’s network in Houston.

United said the temporary service answers higher demand at year-end, when leisure trips and visits to family and friends peak. The published announcements did not give exact days of operation or flight numbers.

Aerodom listed the Houston to Santo Domingo route among several additions at Las Américas between July and December. Cyril Girot, its director general, said each new route and frequency brings “more opportunities for the Dominican Republic”.

Other links with the United States are growing too. JetBlue went from one to three daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and Santo Domingo on 9 July, according to Aerodom.

Travellers from elsewhere also gain options this winter. Air Canada adds a seasonal Montreal route from 10 December, and ITA Airways starts a weekly Rome flight on 30 November.

Santo Domingo’s Airport, Old and New

Las Américas International Airport, officially named after the politician José Francisco Peña Gómez, lies east of the capital. Aerodom holds the concession to run it and five other state airports until 2060.

The company is building a new passenger terminal there worth 24 billion Dominican pesos (about US$400 million). It is also rehabilitating the main runway.

A new automated baggage system began partial operation in June, and Aerodom expects to finish it by the end of 2026. The company says the airport stays fully open while the work continues.

Arriving international passengers can activate a free 24-hour eSIM by scanning a QR code, under a deal with local firm SimLimites. Aerodom says Las Américas is the first airport in Latin America to offer this.

The data is valid across the country and can be topped up through SimLimites. That can save roaming charges on the first day in the country.

Entry Rules for US Citizens

US citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to 30 days, according to the State Department. A US$10 tourist card covers that stay and is included in airline charges.

Every traveller must complete an eTicket for each entry and exit on the portal of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM). Overstays are fined from about US$56 for one month to more than US$1,660, the State Department says.

Passport validity needs care. The State Department lists six months of validity from arrival.

However, a DGM resolution of May 2024 let US tourists enter with a passport valid for the length of their stay.

El Dinero, a Santo Domingo business paper, reported in December 2025 that the DGM extended that waiver to 31 December 2026. That matters here, because the United service runs into January 2027.

Safety, Money and Costs

The State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, citing violent crime including robbery, homicide and sexual assault. It notes that tourist destinations are generally better policed than cities or rural areas.

Its advice is to stay aware of your surroundings, avoid wearing valuables that attract attention and never resist a robbery. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) sends embassy alerts by email.

The Dominican peso traded at 60.36 to the US dollar at the central bank’s buying rate on 5 October 2026. A 1,000-peso note is therefore worth about US$17.

Conversions in this guide use that central bank rate. Agree any taxi fare before setting off, or arrange a transfer through your hotel.

What It Means for You

For travellers in Texas and the western United States, the route adds a one-stop option via Houston over Christmas and New Year. Holiday demand is high, so book early and confirm the days of operation before planning connections.

Anyone entering the country after 31 December should check with the DGM or the airline whether the passport waiver still applies. A passport with six months’ validity avoids the question entirely.

Fill in the eTicket before departure, and remember that a separate one is needed for the trip home. Keep a screenshot in case airport signal is weak.

Dominican Americans visiting family can combine the route with the free airport eSIM on arrival. Aerodom says the finished baggage system will nearly double the number of departing bags it can process per hour.

What Is Not Known

United’s announcements gave no fares, flight numbers or weekdays for the three weekly flights, so check them when booking. United has not said whether the Houston to Santo Domingo route will return next winter or become year-round.

The DGM has not announced whether the passport waiver will be extended beyond 31 December 2026. Aerodom has not given an opening date for the new terminal.

What Comes Next

The first flight from Houston is due on Friday, 18 December, and the service period ends on Sunday, 3 January 2027. Aerodom expects its baggage system upgrade to be complete by the end of 2026.

A new route does not change entry rules or safety advice. Those remain set by the Dominican migration authorities and the US State Department.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do United’s Houston to Santo Domingo flights start?

The seasonal flights start on Friday, 18 December 2026 and run until Sunday, 3 January 2027. United plans three flights a week.

Do US citizens need a visa for the Dominican Republic?

No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 30 days. A US$10 tourist card is included in the airfare, and an eTicket is required for entry and exit.

Is the Dominican Republic safe for US tourists?

The State Department rates it Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, due to crime. It says tourist destinations are generally better policed than cities or rural areas.

Sources: Aerodom, new routes at Santo Domingo (10 August 2026); Aerodom, free eSIM; Aerodom, baggage system; Dominican Today; US State Department, Dominican Republic country information; US State Department, travel advisory; DGM, Resolution DGM-01-2024; El Dinero; Banco Central de la República Dominicana, exchange rate (all accessed 7 October 2026).