Colombia is in the middle of its largest-ever international air connectivity expansion. Twenty new global routes have been added across the country’s main airports in 2026, with connections not just through Bogota’s El Dorado International Airport but also directly to Medellin, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Cali, and Bucaramanga.
The expansion reflects both rising demand and Colombia’s successful image shift as an international leisure and business destination, with international arrivals running at record levels through the first three quarters of 2026.
Medellin’s New Routes
Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova International Airport (MDE) has received six new international routes in 2026:
- Mexico City (Benito Juarez) — bringing a direct Mexican market connection
- Montego Bay, Jamaica — a new Caribbean leisure corridor
- Guatemala City — Central American expansion
- Caracas, Venezuela — restored regional connectivity
- Buenos Aires — direct Argentina service bypassing Bogota
- Guadalajara, Mexico — a second Mexican route reflecting demand from western Mexico
These additions give Medellin a genuine international schedule rather than a secondary domestic hub, making it easier to begin or end a Colombia itinerary in the city without routing through Bogota. Our Medellin city guide covers the city’s main neighbourhoods including El Poblado, Laureles, and the cable car barrios.
Cartagena’s European Connections
Cartagena has added four new international routes:
- Madrid (World2Fly, weekly from July 2026) — the first direct Spain connection
- Mexico City — adding a North American market link
- Houston — US Gulf Coast access
- Washington D.C. — northeastern US direct service
The Madrid connection in particular changes Cartagena’s European market profile, giving it direct access to Spain and indirect connectivity across Europe via Madrid’s hub. See our full coverage of the World2Fly Madrid-Cartagena launch for route details.
US and European Carriers
American Airlines, JetBlue, and Iberia have all added or expanded Colombia capacity in 2026. American’s Bogota frequencies now support connections from across the US domestic network. Iberia expanded its Madrid-Bogota service, and JetBlue increased capacity on its New York-Cartagena and New York-Bogota routes.
The combined effect of carrier additions and frequency increases has pushed down average fares on transatlantic routes by approximately 15-20% compared with 2024 levels, according to data reported by the Colombian tourism promotion body ProColombia.
October Travel Context
October sits in Colombia’s shoulder season between the September-October rainy period and the December peak. Rainfall is higher in October across most of the country, but the Caribbean coast around Cartagena and Santa Marta sees its driest months from December to April. For those visiting the coffee region or the Andes cities, October brings lush green landscapes with fewer crowds than the December and January peaks.
Our flights to Colombia guide covers all current carriers and routes with entry requirements, and our best time to visit Colombia guide breaks down the seasonal patterns by region.