United Airlines has announced an upgrade to its Guam-based fleet. Its 11 Boeing 737-800s in the Pacific will be replaced with the Boeing 737 MAX 8s starting in February 2026.
The 737 MAX 8s will be equipped with United’s NEXT interiors, with the latest seatback IFE, wireless Bluetooth connectivity, larger overhead bins, and more. This will be a major boost in passenger experience.
The aircraft will include 166 seats total, with 16 first and 150 economy seats.
Additionally, the airline will also upgrade its check-in lobby in Guam, which will include kiosks to reduce congestion for departures.
“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.
Related: Review, United Economy Plus and the New NEXT Interiors
I’m a fan of United’s NEXT interiors, and it’ll be great to see them take a global stage, on the other side of the world.
These 737 MAX 8s will eventually include Starlink Wi-Fi down the road, but it looks like it’ll be quite a while until that happens, according to aviation insider JonNYC. The aircraft will come equipped with Viasat first, and it’ll be at least “a few years” until they come with Starlink.
Either way, it’ll be a fantastic passenger experience boost for the Guam fleet.
These aircraft connect all sorts of destinations around the Asia Pacific, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Mongolia, and more. I flew between Narita and Guam back in the 2000s during the Continental days, and I’m always glad to see United continue to invest in these routes and aircraft.
All photos taken by the author.
