By the Caribbean Journal staff

United Airlines has received approval to begin offering daily nonstop flights between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport in Cuba.

The flights will expand from what had been Saturday-only service.

“On behalf of United Airlines, we applaud the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision to increase United service between Houston and Havana from Saturday-only to daily,” said Steve Morrissey, United’s vice president of regulatory and policy. “We also want to congratulate Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, as well as Texas Congressmen Kevin Brady, Gene Green, Pete Olson, Ted Poe, the Houston Airport System, the Greater Houston Partnership and the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for supporting our collective goal to improve air service between Houston and Havana and offering customers throughout the central and western United States more opportunities to make convenient connections in Houston.”

United first launched its Houston-Havana service in 2016.

It will be operating the flights on either Boeing 737-800 flights or Embraer E175 regional aircraft.