United's Guam ops to rely on MAX 8s by end of 2026

By Andrew Curran.

United Airlines’ Guam-based network will transition to an all B737-8 (MAX 8) fleet by the end of 2026, in line with previous announcements.

Late January schedule filings reported on by AeroRoutes indicate MAX 8s will operate nearly all United flights to and from Guam by early December 2026. The exception is the nonstop service between Guam and Honolulu which will continue to use a non-Guam based widebody aircraft.

United Airlines flies to 12 airports in seven countries from Guam, including Honolulu (HNL) in the United States; 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 in the Philippines; Taipei (TPE) in Taiwan; and Osaka (KIX), Nagoya (NGO), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) in Japan.

Historically, the airline has serviced these routes with B737-800s. However, as previously reported by Aero South Pacific, the airline has planned to swap those out for more modern B737-8s.

As of early February, except for the Guam (GUM) – Honolulu flights, which United services with a B777-300ER, the airline continues to use B737-800s. As of late 2025, it had eleven -800s based at Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.

However, in early April, United Airlines intends to start using the B737-8 on the Guam – Tokyo Narita city pair, initially doing two round-trips per week with the aircraft type. But by December 1, 2026, the MAX will be operating all United's Guam - Tokyo Narita flights.

The B737-8 will also be operating United’s daily Guam – Tokyo Haneda, Guam – Kansai, and five times weekly Guam – Nagoya round-trips by December 1.

United also flags December 1 as the date for the MAX 8 to take over from the B737-800 on its twice-weekly Guam – Yap and daily Guam – Manila flights.

Over the first week of December, the B737-8 will take over United’s flights to Koror, Chuuk, Saipan, and Pohnpei, including the multi-stop island hopper flights through to Honolulu. The San Francisco (SFO) based B777 will continue to operate the non-stop flights between Guam and Honolulu.

Photo: United Airlines.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com