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Guam travelers rejoice: United expects its redesigned lobby at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport to be completed by mid-October and a new, modernized fleet touching down for flights by February 2026.
United, the only domestic carrier connecting Guam to the U.S., announced today that it is retiring its Boeing 737-800 fleet and replacing it with 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with the first arriving early next year.
photo by Therese Padua Howe
The MAX 8 will seat up to 166 passengers, including 16 in first class. Every seat will have charging ports and HD entertainment screens, where travelers can watch over 1,400 on-demand selections, including movies, TV shows, and international content, as well as audio playlists, podcasts (through a partnership with Spotify), and games.
Travelers can also expect brighter LED lighting, extra legroom options, Wi-Fi for purchase, and in the near future, high-speed Starlink internet. The new plane’s design also includes accessibility for travelers with hearing or visual disabilities and flexibility for medical transport.
‘Guam is more than just a hub’
On the ground, new check-in kiosks that are already in place offer faster service and allow more self-service options, including same-day rebooking for missed flights. United said in a press release that construction on the redesigned lobby is expected to be completed by mid-October, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned.
United to replace current Boeing 737-800 fleet with 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes that offer screens in every seatback, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi, more extra-legroom seating, and overhead bin space for everyone’s carry-on bag.
(photo courtesy of United Airlines)
“Guam is more than just a hub for us – it’s a gateway that connects communities across the Pacific and the United States,” Sam Shinohara, United’s managing director of airport operations in Asia-Pacific, said in a press release. “For our more than 1,000 employees based in Guam and Micronesia and the communities we serve, this investment reinforces United’s long-term commitment to supporting Guam and the region’s tourism economy.”
“It’s about giving our Guam customers the premium experience they deserve,” David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer, added in the press release.. “From check-in to landing, the journey should be seamless.”
Connecting Guam to Asia, the Pacific
United’s Guam-based operations serve 15 destinations with 12 daily flights, including its famous “Island Hopper” route through Micronesia. That route connects Guam and Hawaii through stops at Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kwajalein and Majuro.
United has up to 42 weekly flights to Japan's three largest cities: Tokyo (both Narita and Haneda airports), Osaka, and Nagoya.
The new 737 MAX 8 aircraft will serve all other destinations from United's Guam hub, including Koror, Manila, Saipan, Yap, and Taipei. It will also operate on routes between Tokyo-Narita and Cebu, Ulaanbaatar, Saipan, Kaohsiung, and Palau, with service to Palau starting on October 29.
"Our investment in new aircraft to service our intra-Asia routes will deliver the premium experience our customers expect of United and is part of our broader commitment to elevating the customer experience across the Pacific region," Kenichi Kiriyama, United Airlines’ director of sales, Asia Micronesia, said in a statement on Thursday.
Earlier departures from Saipan
Closer to home, United is also adjusting its Saipan-Guam schedule, offering earlier departures three days a week to allow same-day connections to Honolulu.
Effective Dec. 1 to March 27, 2026, flights from Saipan to Guam will depart roughly four hours earlier at 6 a.m. ChST, with a 55-minute connection in Guam, creating a more efficient onward connection to Honolulu. The earlier flights will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the new schedule loading on Friday.
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