United announced Thursday that it will soon replace its entire Guam-based Boeing 737-800 fleet with new 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
In a statement, the carrier said it will move 10 737 MAX 8s to Guam. The first of that group is expected to arrive in February 2026.
United’s narrowbody fleet in Guam currently serves 15 destinations, with 12 flights per day. These flights include island hopper service to Hawaii via Micronesia and the Marshall Islands and connections to Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka.
The 737 MAX 8 will operate flights from Guam to Koror, Palau; Manila, Philippines; Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands; Yap, Micronesia; and Taipei, Taiwan, as well as from Tokyo Narita to Cebu, Philippines; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Saipan; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; and Palau.
United’s Guam-based 737 MAX 8s will have up to 166 passenger seats in total, including up to 16 United First seats. Each seat comes with a seatback entertainment screen – 13-inch for first-class, 10-inch for United Economy – and access to USB charge ports.
United said the aircraft’s cabins will offer larger overhead bins for storage. They will also feature the carrier’s latest interior design scheme and LED lighting.
Wi-Fi will be available for purchase. The airline said it expects to roll out Starlink connectivity across its entire fleet “within the next few years.” Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers.
Lobby Upgrades
United also said it is renovating its check-in lobby at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport near Hagåtña, Guam. The airline has already installed new, more modern check-in kiosks and is reconfiguring the lobby to make it more “customer-centric.”
“Guam is more than just a hub for us – it’s a gateway that connects communities across the Pacific and the United States,” said Sam Shinohara, United’s managing director of airport operations in the Asia-Pacific region, in a news 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.”
