United Airlines has announced plans to upgrade its fleet at the carrier’s base that’s most often forgotten (thanks to AirlineFlyer and JonNYC for flagging this)…
United Airlines replacing all Guam-based aircraft
United has a sizable presence in Guam (GUM), and this includes having 11 Boeing 737-800s based there. In reality, these are also the planes that are used for United’s narrow body flights out of Tokyo Narita (NRT), as they’re essentially cycled throughout the Pacific region.
The 737-800s that are based in Guam have definitely seen better days, and have rather outdated interiors, at this point. So along those lines, there’s an exciting update — as of February 2026, United plans to fully replace its Guam-based 737-800s with 737 MAX 8s.
So, why should passengers care? The 737 MAX is a little more fuel efficient, has a little more range, and is a little quieter, than previous generation 737s. However, what’s more exciting is the upgraded interiors on these planes, as they’ll feature United’s latest interiors.
That means Guam will finally see 737s with fresh interiors, audio and video on demand at each seat with 10-13″ HD monitors, bluetooth audio for all, larger overhead bins, and more. We’ll also eventually see these planes get Starlink Wi-Fi. United’s 737 MAX 8s feature 166 seats, including 16 first class seats and 150 economy class seats.
As part of this Guam investment, the airline will also be upgrading its check-in lobby at Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport, with new kiosks that reduce congestion. Here’s how David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer, describes this:
“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. 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.”
United Airlines’ Guam base is incredibly interesting
United is by far the most global of the “big three” US carriers, and its international route network is nothing short of mesmerizing. Of all of United’s flying, I’d argue that the Guam base is probably the most interesting, given how these 737s are used:
- United’s single most interesting route must be its “island hopper,” which operates from Guam to Honolulu (HNL) via five small islands in the Pacific along the way, acting as an essential link to these communities
- Beyond the island hopper, United flies from Guam to places like Koror, Palau (ROR), Manila, Philippines (MNL), Nagoya, Japan (NGO), Osaka, Japan (KIX), Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (SPN), Taipei, Taiwan (TPE), and more
- United uses its Guam-based 737s to operate flights out of Tokyo Narita, and we’ve seen year-round flights launched to Kaohsiung, Taiwan (KHH), and seasonal flights launched to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UBN)
We’ve known that United’s network out of Guam wasn’t terribly profitable in recent years, so it’s cool to see the airline trying new things, and investing in making the experience a bit better.
Bottom line
United Airlines will be upgrading its Guam-based aircraft. As of February 2026, the airline will fly Boeing 737 MAX 8s from the airport, replacing the existing 737-800s. These planes will have United’s latest interiors, so that’ll be a very nice upgrade to the passenger experience, not just out of Guam, but also for United’s 737 operations out of Japan.
What do you make of United’s Guam upgrades?
