Early start for United Airlines' Guam MAX 8 ops

By Andrew Curran.

The first two of ten United Airlines’ B737-8s (MAX 8s) have transferred to Guam (GUM) and quietly begun operating scheduled flights from the airport. At the same time, the airline has started ferrying out older B737-800s based at the airport.

United Airlines Chief Customer Officer David Kinzelman flagged the first aircraft’s arrival in a LinkedIn post earlier this month. The incoming 737-8s will replace the older 737-800s based at Guam’s Antonio B Won Pat International Airport.

Although Kinzelman’s post was relatively recent, ADS-B flight tracking data shows the first B737-8, N17302 (msn 67559), ferried to Guam in early February. The same flight tracking data shows another MAX 8, N27304 (msn 67562), ferried in on March 4.

The first aircraft, N17302, operated from Miami (MIA) to San Francisco (SFO) on February 1, from SFO to Honolulu (HNK) on February 3, and Honolulu to Guam on February 3. The same data shows the aircraft began operating scheduled flights to and from Guam on February 6.

The second B737-8, N27304, flew Miami – Denver (DEN) – Honolulu – Guam over seven days between February 28 and March 4. It begun operating scheduled services from Guam on March 7, starting with a Guam – Manila (MNL) round-trip.

You can view the flight history for N17302 here and N27304 here.

United brings forward start of Guam MAX 8 ops

United Airlines flies to 12 airports in seven countries from Guam, including Honolulu (HNL); Pohnpei (PNI), Chuuk (TKK), and Yap (YAP) in the Federated States of Micronesia; Koror (ROR) in Palau; Saipan (SPN) in the Northern Marianas; Manila (MNL); Taipei (TPE); and Osaka (KIX), Nagoya (NGO), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) in Japan.

As reported in Aero South Pacific last month, MAX 8s will operate nearly all United flights to and from Guam by early December 2026, except for the Guam  – Honolulu flights, which United will continue to service with a San Francisco-based B777-300ER.

Earlier reporting that relied on schedule filings suggested that United’s first MAX 8 flights to and from Guam would take place in late April. More recent reporting in Guam-based media that flags a May 1 start date is incorrect.

Kinzelman said the switch to MAX 8s was a “well-deserved” upgrade. The airline plans to replace one aircraft every month with the new Boeing 737-8s until the end of the year.

Older B737-800s start to ferry out from Guam

As N17302 and N27304 bed down at their new Guam base, United has already started ferrying out the B737-800s they are replacing. So far this year, three have left.

The first, N33294 (msn 34000), departed Guam in mid-January for Miami via Majuro (MAJ), Honolulu, and San Francisco. The second, N77296 (msn 34002), left Guam for Chicago (ORD) in late February.

Most recently, N73291 (msn 33454) departed Guam for Miami via Majuro, Honolulu, and San Francisco on March 12.

You can see the flight history for N33294 here, N77296 here, and N73291 here.

According to Kinzelman, compared to the -800s, the MAX 8s will offer passengers larger overhead bins, charging ports and accessible seatback screens at every seat and bluetooth connections to “meet the premium experience that customers deserve and expect from United Airlines.”

Photo: United Airlines.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com