Airline to launch new direct flight to Guatemala from the U.S.
Once frequently overlooked by sun-seeking travelers headed toward neighboring Mexico and Belize, the Central American nation of Guatemala has over the last year seen a strong spike in international visitor numbers as many seek out newer and less-visited destinations.
The 3.36 million international visitors recorded by the country’s tourism board in 2025 is an 11% increase from the previous year, while even higher double-digit growth is predicted for this year.
Many come to Guatemala specifically to experience Mayan culture — the country is home to both a number of World Heritage sites and the largest indigenous population in Central America — as well as natural wonders such as the volcanoes around Lake Atitlán and the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey.
Avianca to launch new flight between Guatemala City and San Francisco in 2026
As a result, airlines in different parts of the world have been looking to launch more direct service into both the capital of Guatemala City and the island town of Flores that serves as a gateway to the Tikal temples.
In January 2026, United Airlines started running a new flight to Guatemala City from Houston, and low-cost carrier Frontier Airlines also launched flights into the capital from Dallas and Orlando.
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The latest airline to announce new direct service between Guatemala and the United States is Colombian flag carrier Avianca.
The airline’s new flight between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (GUA) will launch on June 1 and run seasonally until Aug. 31, 2026.
The flight will run four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays on an Airbus A320 with room for 180 passengers. The first three rows of the plane will be equipped with three rows of Avianca’s Business Class Américas premium seats with extra legroom.
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New Guatemala route to offer “more connectivity options,” Avianca says
Avianca already flies to Guatemala from major U.S. hubs like JFK and LAX while also selling flights to Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) in Flores from both GTL and several cities in Central America.
From San Francisco, Avianca offers a flight to El Salvador International Airport (SAL) in San Salvador that also serves as a connector for U.S. travelers going further into this region of Central America.
“The launch of this route responds to customer demand for more connectivity options between key destinations and is part of Avianca’s strategy to continue strengthening its international network with an efficient and reliable operation,” Alejandro Benítez, senior vice president of corporate development for Avianca, said in a statement on the new route.
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The flight to Guatemala City will depart at 7:45 a.m. to arrive at 2:15 p.m. local time for a total duration of just over five hours. The flight back to San Francisco will run on the slightly less enviable red-eye schedule of departing at 1:20 a.m. and arriving at 6:25 a.m.
The uptake of this flight will determine whether Avianca brings it back for another season in 2025 or potentially expands it into a year-round flight.
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