Continuing a growing trend of Caribbean flights from the western United States, United Airlines just kicked off a new route between Denver, Colo. and San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

The new flight officially began operations this week between Denver and San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. 

The new service is operating daily, adding about 50,000 seats annually to Puerto Rico’s tourism sector. 

“This new service strengthens the positioning of Puerto Rico as a world-class destination and the main air hub of a region as competitive as the Caribbean,” said Carlos Mercado Santiago, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. 

The new service is the latest in an increasing number of flights to the Caribbean out of the west, one that largely began with Cayman Airways’ service between Denver and Grand Cayman back in 2019. 

Other new routes include service between Los Angeles and Grand Cayman and a pair of new routes connecting Los Angeles with Nassau, The Bahamas from JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, respectively. 

Alaska is also launching Seattle-Nassau flights.

The new route “expands the potential to increase the number of visitors from the central and western United States and international markets, since United offers multiple connection options through its base at Denver International Airport, one of the most active in the country,” Mercado Santiago said. 

“United has a long history of serving Puerto Rico and we are proud to be able to connect even more customers between the island and the mainland US, particularly from the West Coast and Western Mountain regions,” said Tom Kozlowski.

United also operates Puerto Rico flights from Chicago, Newark, Houston and Washington-Dulles.