Airline to replace current Boeing 737-800 fleet with ten Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplanes that offer screens in every seatback, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi, more extra-legroom seating, and overhead bin space for everyone’s roll aboard carry-on bag, with the first arrival scheduled for February 2026
MANILA, September 25, 2025 – United is transforming the travel experience on its intra-Asia flights, today announcing it will replace its entire Guam-based Boeing 737-800 fleet with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
United is the only U.S. carrier to fly intra-Asia with a daily service from Manila to Guam, a twice-weekly service from Manila to Palau, and a daily service from Cebu to Tokyo-Narita, with convenient onward connections to the U.S. Those flights are operated by United’s Guam-based fleet.
The first Boeing 737 MAX 8 is scheduled to arrive in Guam 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 to service our intra-Asia routes 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 the broader Pacific region,” said Kenichi Kiriyama, United Airlines’ Director of Sales – Asia, Micronesia. “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.”
New Aircraft
United’s Guam-based 737 MAX 8 will have up to 166 seats total, including up to 16 United FirstSM 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 – 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.
In addition to its intra-Asia flights, United is the only U.S. airline offering nonstop trans-Pacific flights to and from the Philippines with 30 services weekly, including a daily service from Manila to San Francisco, increasing to twice-daily from October 26.
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.
