United Airlines Is Adding 35% More Seats on Ecuador-US Routes Starting March

If you fly back to the States regularly, this one's for you.

United Airlines just announced a significant capacity increase on its Ecuador routes, adding approximately 27,000 additional seats on Quito-Houston flights in 2026.

The New Schedule

That's nearly double the current frequency at peak — from daily service to almost twice daily.

Why This Matters

More flights = more options. If you've ever been stuck paying $800+ for a last-minute Houston connection because there was only one flight per day, having 12 weekly departures changes the math significantly. More seats in the market generally means better pricing, especially on non-peak travel days.

Better connections. Houston (IAH) is United's largest hub, connecting to over 100 US destinations. More Ecuador departures mean better connection windows — fewer overnight layovers in Houston, more same-day connections to cities across the country.

Seasonal timing is smart. The May-September expansion aligns with peak expat travel season — summer visits to family, July 4th trips, kids' school breaks for expat families.

What About Guayaquil?

No Guayaquil expansion was announced in this round. If you fly out of Guayaquil, the current schedule remains unchanged. For Cuenca-based expats, this means:

• Via Quito: More flight options but you still need the Cuenca-Quito connection (LATAM, Avianca, or overland)
• Via Guayaquil: No change to United's schedule, but remember LATAM just launched direct Cuenca-Guayaquil service which connects well

The Competition

United isn't the only carrier expanding. LATAM recently launched direct Cuenca-Galápagos flights (starting March 31), and American Airlines and Copa continue to serve Ecuador. More competition across the board is good news for ticket prices.

Booking Tips

• The expanded schedule starts March 29 — flights should be bookable now on united.com
• Tuesday-Wednesday departures typically offer the best prices
• United's Basic Economy fares to Houston start around $350-450 round-trip from Quito, but check regularly — the new capacity could push prices lower
• If you have United MileagePlus status, more flights mean more award availability

Source: Primicias