Houston to San Salvador (San Luis Talpa) (IAH–SAL) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
IAH–SAL is served by 5 airlines with nonstop service. United Airlines, SalamAir and GXA lead the route. The flight covers 1,211 miles in approximately 2h 2m. Beyond nonstop, 39 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA United Airlines Also: AV | 28 | 7M9, B39M | 3h04-3h30 | Star Alliance | AV | |
| N3 SalamAir | 3 | A20N | 2h56 | – | – | |
| GXA GXA | 1 | – | – | – | – | |
| NK Spirit Airlines | 1 | – | – | – | – | |
| F9 Frontier | 0 | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach San Salvador (San Luis Talpa) from Houston
| Metric | IAH→SAL | HOU→SAL |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from IAH | – | 24 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 5 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 60 | 1 |
| Flight time | 2h 2m | 3h |
| Departure OTP | 100% | – |
Travel Essentials
IAH: CDT · SAL: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in Houston, it's 5:00 PM in San Salvador (San Luis Talpa).
US passport holders enter El Salvador visa-free for up to 90 days. No advance application is needed. El Salvador is part of the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, meaning the 90-day period is shared across all four countries. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At El Salvador International Airport (SAL) in San Salvador, immigration stamps your passport. A $12 tourist card fee is included in your airline ticket.
The 90-day CA-4 clock starts when you enter any of the four member countries and does not reset when crossing borders between them. El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. El Tunco and El Zonte on the Pacific coast are the main surf beaches. Ruta de las Flores, a route through five mountain towns in the western highlands, passes coffee farms, waterfalls, and weekend food markets. El Salvador adopted the US dollar as its official currency in 2001 and also recognizes Bitcoin as legal tender since 2021.
Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to San Salvador run about 3 hours on Avianca and Spirit. Houston (IAH) to SAL runs about 3 hours 30 minutes on United. Los Angeles, Dallas, and Washington Dulles also have nonstop service. Since El Salvador uses the US dollar, there is no currency exchange needed. ATMs dispense US dollars. Card payments work at hotels, restaurants, and larger shops. Bitcoin acceptance varies: the government Chivo wallet and ATMs exist but cash dollars remain the everyday standard. Local buses cost $0.20 to $0.35 per ride. Uber operates in San Salvador.
IAH has no direct rail link to downtown Houston. The IAH Express bus runs from Houston Amtrak/Greyhound station via Park & Ride to Terminal C (60–90 min, $1.25 with METRO Q card). This is the only transit option; Houston's rail network does not reach the airport.Taxis from downtown Houston cost $50–70 and take 40–60 minutes. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) are typically $35–55. IAH sits 23 miles north of downtown on the North Freeway (I-45); traffic is heavy during morning and evening rush. Remote economy parking lots serve all terminals via shuttle.
IAH–SAL Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IAH to SAL
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) are connected by nonstop service from Frontier, GXA, SalamAir, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines. With 60 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IAH to SAL Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IAH to SAL ranges from 2 hours 2 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes. The route covers a distance of 1,211 miles (1,949 km). There are approximately 60 weekly flights outbound and 66 return, totaling 126 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
39 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 4 hours via JAX. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Houston (HOU).