With the pandemic waning and Japan on the verge of re-opening, United Airlines is adding flights from its Guam hub, including the resumption of suspended services to three cities and increased frequencies on its Tokyo route.
United Airlines Adding Flights To Japan From Guam Hub
With travel demand strong in both directions and Japan expected to re-open to U.S. tourists in the weeks ahead, United Airlines is restoring service to Japan from its Pacific hub at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam (GUM):
- Osaka (KIX) – resumed July 1, 2022
- Nagoya (NGO) – resuming August 1, 2022
- Tokyo (NRT) – additional frequencies resume on August 1, 2022
- up to one extra flight per day
- Fukuoka (FUK) – resuming August 4, 2022
Overall, United will operate 17 weekly flights to Japan in July and 28 in August. These services will utilize a Boeing 737-800 specially configured for United’s Micronesia division.
Just this week, United Airlines announced that its popular early check-in service at GUM is returning after a hiatus of more than two years, which will allow passengers to check in the and drop their bags off the evening before their early morning flights.
Justin Marion, United’s General Manager of Airport Operations in Guam, explained:
“We are pleased to announce that United’s Early Check-in service has reopened after two years. Many of our flights depart early in the morning, and customers who opt to check in early will be able to have more time in the morning, skip the lines, and head straight to the security checkpoint.”
United Airlines continues to service Manila (MNL), Palau (ROR), Yap (YAP), and Saipan (SPN) from Guam. Hong Kong (HKG) service continues as well, but is currently cargo-only.
New Saipan – Tokyo Service On United Airlines
In a related move, the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has announced that United Airlines will begin new service between Saipan (SPN) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) starting in September. The new route will be subsidized under the government’s Tourism Resumption Investment Plan and operate three times weekly.
But recovery is still elusive: the “island hopper” between Honolulu (HNL) and Guam remains off-limits to non-residents and Japan has delayed its reopening several times. In reality, the resumption of these flights may be premature, even as pent-up demand exists in both the U.S. and Japan.
Finally, there is no update on when United’s club lounge will reopen at GUM. It has been closed since the pandemic and is undergoing an extensive remodel.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines is increasing service to Japan starting this month with the re-introduction of Osaka service and adding two more routes in August. With a stronger schedule, Guam is looking more like a hub once again.
image: lasta29
I am a Guam based flyer and just flew out of GUM yesterday. I can tell you the GUM United Club is not under renovation and has been closed since the beginning of the pandemic. A few weeks ago, I emailed United customer service asking when it would reopen and mentioned that all the United lounges in the continental US are reopening. They reply that due to Covid the GUM United lounge remains closed. It is a bunch of BS and United just does not want to spend money on the lounge.
On the bright side, the Priority Pass lounge in GUM, Sagan Bisita, is now open during United’s NRT flight times.
A Flyertalk thread suggests it is being moved to a new location and is under construction. I’ll dig a little more.
flew once from guam to tokyo there were only 3 people on flight
not exactly a hub
Technically, it is a hub. In fact, both were hubs for many years.
Leads me to believe that they have information on a full reopening in Japan. My contacts there tell me it will be announced right after the election on the 10th.
What exactly makes you think Japan is about to re-open? I see nothing to suggest they are in any hurry to do so.
Jance, all of my colleagues in Japan are telling me the same thing. That after the election on the 10th there will be an announcement, the details of which are vague but that they fully expect many countries to be welcomed again without current group restrictions etc. It would seem given this announcement by United that they seem to think so as well. We will see if they are correct.
Interesting tidbit on the Island Hopper being for residents only right now. Did not know that. I wonder when that will be lifted? Can’t be that profitable right now..
Happy to hear that you are adding a flight to Guam as there are a lot of passengers from manila to Guam then guam to honolulu..
For Guam to become a transit hub, UA should add passenger flights to Asia cities like Singapore, Taipei and Soul, and connect continental US with non-stop flights to SFO or LAX
There are already so many nonstop and one stop options between SFO/LAX and Asia. Anyone connecting through GUM would be someone looking for a heavily discounted fare, and UA wouldn’t develop the hub in that way for this customers.
That is why the UA transit hub in NRT closed years ago.
Guam is a hub for a lot of small Pacific island countries and dependencies, with small inter island planes connecting to larger UA flights to Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.
What happen to Delta Airlines?
They’ll probably come back eventually, but they are really light in the Pacific right now.
Thank you Matthew, this insight is very helpful. Work in Guam periodically and the Saipan option to NRT should be a nice travel opportunity.
The bull is true..about the lounge..Also, no United Lounge in Manila..Speak the truth United¿
how about bring back bkk flights were always full maybe a gum,hnd or nrt direct to bkk , bkk has reopen and is expecting allot more tourists expats ?
Would be nice to at least have GUM-BKK. Maybe one day…