Two United Airlines Boeing 737-8 aircraft are now based at Guam International (GUM) as the carrier prepares to replace its 737-800 fleet at the airport by the end of 2026.
The carrier’s first 737-8 flights from GUM will begin on April 30 with select services to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT). “By December, United expects all its narrowbody flights from Guam … to be operated with a MAX 8 aircraft,” the airline said.
United uses the Pacific U.S. territory as a narrowbody hub to serve 15 destinations in the region. The airline will base 10 737-8s at GUM by the end of 2026, replacing the 737-800 fleet currently based at the airport.
The carrier operates a number of fifth-freedom services from GUM through NRT, including flights from the Tokyo airport to Cebu; Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN); and Koror, Palau (ROR). Both the NRT-UBN and NRT-ROR routes will see 737-8 aircraft replacing 737-800s on select flights by May 2.
United said that by late August all flights from GUM to NRT and beyond will be flown with 737-8s, as well as on service from GUM to islands Saipan and Yap.
United operates 42 weekly flights from GUM to Japan, serving NRT, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya and Osaka.
“The introduction of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 [at GUM] helps us deliver a more consistent and reliable experience for customers traveling to the 15 destinations we serve throughout the region,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president for global network planning and alliances.
United noted the 737-8s will “offer screens in every seatback, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi, more extra-legroom seating and larger overhead bin space.”
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