a key destination

United Airlines extends travel from Houston to popular Florida coastal getaway

The Hemingway Home is an extremely popular Key West destination.

As temperatures rise, so does demand for travel to beachy destinations. Airlines are jam-packed with demands for spots such as the Yucatan peninsula and Costa Rica.

Now, a major airline is expanding service to a popular Florida spot through the Labor Day holiday.

United Airlines is extending its daily nonstop service to Key West. Flights between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Key West International Airport (EYW) will run through the Labor Day holiday. The service starts Thursday, May 6, according to a press release.

For those keeping track, the Houston–Key West service, on United’s Embraer E175 aircraft, offers seating for 70 passengers, with 58 main and 12 first-class seats. Service launched in December of last year and was scheduled to run through May 5, but has been extended through September 7.

That’s good news for local travelers who want to hit the coastal community after summer.

“Houston is a popular origin city for Texas visitors who want to experience the Florida Keys,” said Richard Strickland, director of airports for the Florida Keys & Key West, in a statement.

Fans and visitors will no doubt recognize Key West as the home of American literary icon Ernest Hemingway. (The author’s home is a famous tourist hotspot.) Key West is also celebrated for its beaches, restaurants, and cultural scene.

Texas travelers take note: American Airlines also offers daily Texas nonstop service between Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and EYW.

trends vacation

see historic natchez

New direct flight connects Houston with Southern tourist favorite

Photo by Mike Chapman

United has begun new non-stop flights to Natchez, MS.

United Airlines has announced the first direct flight to Natchez, Mississippi from George Bush Intercontinental Airport in three decades, offering quick trips to one of the fasted growing tourist destinations in the Magnolia State. The flights started July 1.

“With daily flights now operating, Natchez is more accessible than ever to visitors, and our residents have a convenient connection to destinations across the country and beyond,” said Lance Harris, executive director of Visit Natchez. “As we head into one of our busiest event seasons, we encourage travelers to take advantage of the new service and plan a fall trip to Natchez.”

Why Natchez?

While it might not be the first name that comes to mind when choosing a vacation spot, Natchez has been

growing in popularity. According to Visit Natchez, 2025 was a record year for tourism in the city, with hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Popular attractions include touring the many antebellum houses as well as historical cemeteries; the Forks of the Road slave market museum site, and the annual October Balloon Festival. The city boasts stunning river views along hiking trails as well as first class restaurants. For those who may have skipped Houston's rescheduled Pride Parade thanks to the August heat, Natchez also has a Y'all Means All Festival the weekend before Halloween.

The Flights

Daily flights out of Bush will be on a 50-passenger CRJ-200 aircraft with a flight time of just 45 minutes. Round-trip prices start at only $192, making it a fairly cheap and quick trip for a weekend getaway. Flights will land in the new Natchez-Adams County Airport passenger terminal, which streamlines the wait times for a more seamless visit.

Natchez has been investing heavily in tourism lately, making it one of the city's biggest industries. It received a $24.5 million grant in 2024 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the promotion of sites related to African-American history. The grant is set to improve signage, lighting, and other aspects of the area between Devereaux Drive and St. Catherine Street through downtown Natchez to the sites overlooking the Mississippi River, dubbed the Forks to Freedom Corridor.

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