United Airlines adds two direct flights from Edmonton to Houston, Chicago

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) on Friday said that through a partnership with United Airlines, the airport will gain direct flights to Chicago and Houston.

The direct flights to Houston will begin takeoff in May, starting with four weekly flights in the summer and increasing to daily winter flights.

Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, Jim Szczesniak, said the partnership will increase the bonds between the two cities, “opening doors for cultural exchange and exploration.”

YEG president and CEO Myron Keehn said the new flights aid the airport in its broad vision of having more flights to more places for those leaving Edmonton.

“From important business connections to diverse cultural experiences, we know our passengers will enjoy these new non-stop offerings at YEG,” said Keehn.

The airport highlighted the benefits of further connections between Edmonton and Houston due to the two cities’ shared attachment to the energy sector.

It said the new flights offer a chance to strengthen business ties between Edmonton and Houston while also opening doors in other industries where the American city leads, like aerospace, health care, and technology.

Beyond the immediate connection between Edmonton and Houston, the latter also serves as a global hub, particularly to Latin and South America, for United. It hopes to open new travel opportunities for Edmonton customers.

“As a global gateway to Latin America and beyond, Houston is proud to serve as a vital link that connects these two corners of the world, fostering growth, innovation and shared experiences,” said Szczesniak.

For its part, YEG said the direct Chicago flight offers a “major global hub for finance, manufacturing and technology,” which it said will make the city a key destination for Edmonton businesses to connect with international networks and industry leaders.

Chicago flights also begin in May, with three non-stop flights from Edmonton per week over the summer.

The two direct flights come on the heels of a similar recent announcement that YEG will also get direct flights to Salt Lake City and Chicago from WestJet, in addition to other expanded offerings domestically.