Houston, May 9 (RHC)--United Airlines is increasing service between Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and Havana's José Martí International Airport beginning July 20.

"This expansion to Havana will provide significant public benefits to our city, region and state. As a diverse global city – in which many people speak Spanish – we are heavily reliant on international travel for our economic success,” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told PRNewswire.

"United's new daily service to Cuba will offer more opportunities to connect our customers traveling from Houston and the central and western United States directly to Havana," said Patrick Quayle, United's vice president of International Network.

"Houston is United's gateway to Latin America and its convenient location offers customers easy access to connect to 44 destinations across our broad domestic network," the executive added.

Meanwhile, Jetblue has also announced that it will begin the first nonstop service to Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport from Boston on Saturdays in November.

According to Business Wire, the new service is the result of frequencies granted to the airline by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Massport CEO Thomas Glynn said the new service will provide better connections between New England and Cuba in the healthcare, biotechnology, financial, cultural and educational fields.