United to upgrade Guam fleet, replacing Boeing 737-800 with Boeing 737 MAX 8

Boeing 737 MAX 8. Photo courtesy of UA

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

United Airlines will replace its entire Boeing 737-800 fleet with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and upgrade its check-in lobby at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport with new kiosks that will reduce congestion and save customers time, the airline announced today.

The first Boeing 737 MAX 8 is scheduled to arrive in February of 2026 and will feature United’s signature interior with seatback entertainment in every seat, larger overhead bins for every passenger's carry-on bag, Wi-Fi available for purchase, more extra-legroom seating, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity, as well as a bright look-and-feel with LED lighting, bringing customers a more modern onboard experience.

“Our investment in new aircraft and a complete refresh of our lobby in Guam will deliver the premium experience our customers expect of United and is part of our broader commitment to elevating the customer experience for our customers in Guam and the broader Pacific region,” said David Kinzelman, United’s chief customer officer.

"For customers with connecting flights to or from the mainland U.S., these investments will mean a consistent, seamless experience from check-in to landing," he added.

Sam Shinohara, United’s managing director of airport operations in Asia-Pacific, added, “Guam is more than just a hub for us – it’s a gateway that connects communities across the Pacific and the United States. 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.”

United's Guam-based 737 MAX 8 will have up to 166 seats total, including up to 16 United First seats. Every seat on these aircraft has access to USB charge ports and provides a seatback experience with accessibility features for people with hearing or visual disabilities. The aircraft also will have Bluetooth technology throughout for easy connections between wireless headphones and the seatback entertainment screens. 

Wi-Fi will be available for purchase, with United planning to roll out Starlink to its entire fleet within the next few years. Starlink access will be free for all MileagePlus customers and includes game-changing inflight entertainment experiences like streaming services, shopping, gaming and more.

United's inflight entertainment – 13-inch high-definition screens in every first-class seat and 10-inch HD screens in every United Economy seat on the 737 MAX 8 – includes free access to more than 1,400 on-demand selections including movies, TV shows and international selections, as well as audio playlists, podcasts, and games.

The entertainment system is translated into 16 different languages, including Japanese, Chinese (Traditional) and Chinese (Simplified), and movies and TV shows from across the globe are available in various languages in audio or subtitles.

Customers can also check what content is available ahead of their flight. United recently announced that full seasons of select Apple TV+ global hits are available for free on the airline's seatback screens and in the United app, including award-winning shows such as Severance, Shrinking, Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, Silo and more. In addition, United has a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Spotify that delivers 450+ hours of audiobook and video podcast content for free.

When needed, the front rows of Economy class can be collapsed to accommodate a medical stretcher for patients needing medevac transport.

United is also investing in the customer experience at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport with a significant upgrade to the check-in lobby. United has installed brand-new, next-generation kiosks, which are up to 55% faster than the current kiosks, providing an improved employee and customer experience. 

Since the new kiosks have been installed in Guam, more than 48,000 customers have saved up to 18 seconds during check in, with the average session time now under two minutes. The new kiosks have expanded self-service capabilities, including a self-booking option for customers who have missed their flight.

The lobby is being re-configured and redesigned to be more customer-centric, with the check-in kiosks staged in a two-step configuration to reduce congestion and wait times. United’s kiosks are designed to be accessible to all customers and construction in the terminal is expected to be complete by mid-October.

United is making it more convenient for customers in Saipan to connect to Honolulu and beyond, adjusting its schedule three days per week from Saipan to allow for a same-day connection. Effective from Dec. 1, 2025 to Mar. 27, 2026, flights from Saipan to Guam will depart roughly four hours earlier at 6:00 a.m. local time, 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.

United’s Guam-based narrowbody fleet currently serves 15 destinations, with 12 flights per day. These flights include the unique Island Hopper route that connects Guam and Hawaii through stops at Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Kwajalein, and Majuro.

United also operates up to 42 flights per week to Japan’s three largest cities, including Tokyo-Narita and Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka and Nagoya. The 737 MAX 8 will operate to all other points served via United’s Guam hub including Koror, Manila, Saipan, Yap, and Taipei, and routes between Tokyo-Narita and Cebu, Ulaanbaatar, Saipan, Kaohsiung, and Palau which starts service on Oct. 29.

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