United Airlines’ Most Frequently-Operated Flights That Neither Take Off Nor Land In The US

The origin of United Airlines’ non-continental US operations came about several decades ago. In the late 1960s, then-Continental Airlines appropriately focused on routes outside its US network to further connect the world. The airline established Air Micronesia at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM), which eventually became Continental Micronesia – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Continental.

The airline branch quickly became one of Guam’s largest private-sector employers, with nearly 2,000 employees at one point. Its most famous routes, between GUM and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu, continue to be successful today.

Throughout later years, future growth faced challenges as fuel prices were extremely high. In 2010, Continental merged into United, eliminating Continental Micronesia’s operating ticket. It remained a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings for a few years before the branch was officially incorporated into United’s operation.

Despite Continental Micronesia ceasing, United still operates many Pacific routes, including the Marshall Islands, the Philippines, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

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United uses a fleet of Boeing 737-800s based at GUM. Known as the Island Hopper route, the carrier’s service to some communities is the only scheduled air service for the islands, and it has nearly 99% of the market share at GUM. These routes connecting the following destinations from east to west are undoubtedly United’s most frequently operated flights outside of the continental US.

1

Pohnpei Island – Weno Island, Micronesia

40 flights

According to aviation data and analytics firm Cirum, the journey between PNI and TKK is the route that United operates the most. Next month, the airline has 22 flights scheduled to TKK and 18 on return to PNI. UA132 typically operates on Mondays and Thursdays, departing PNI at 15:25 and arriving at TKK one hour and 20 minutes later at 15:25. UA154 is the equivalent flight but operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

UA133 typically leaves TKK at around 10:45 and journeys to PNI for a little over an hour, arriving at just after 13:00 local time. The flight usually operates on Sundays and Wednesdays. The other flight, UA155, departs from TKK at 10:30 and lands at PNI at around 12:20 on Mondays and Fridays.

Across all flights in July, United has:

• 3,652 seats scheduled for TKK
• 2,988 seats scheduled for PNI
• More than 2,9 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs)

2

Kwajalein – Majuro, Marshall Islands

27 flights

The next most frequent route is between KWA and MAJ, with a total of 27 flights scheduled throughout July. The MAJ-bound route will see 14 flights, while the KWA-bound route will see 13 flights. UA133 typically operates weekly on Wednesdays, leaving KWA at around 17:45 and arriving at MAJ after about an hour, around 18:30. Similarly, UA155 is the equivalent, is scheduled on Mondays and Fridays.

Photo: Boeing

UA132 leaves MAJ on Thursdays around 11:40 and arrives at KWA at 12:30, while UA154 operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays with a departure time of 11:10 and an arrival time of around 12:00.

Between the two destinations next month, United will offer:

• 2,324 seats to MAJ
• 2,158 seats to KWA
• A total of 1,201,176 ASMs

3

Manila, Philippines – Babelthuap Island, Palau

18 flights

Flights between MNL and ROR have a total of 18 frequencies scheduled in July – nine in each direction. Flight UA192 operates overnight on Tuesdays and Fridays in ROR. It departs around 22:30 from MNL and journeys for a duration of about two hours 45 minutes, arriving just after 02:00 at ROR. The MNL-bound flight, UA193, is also a night flight but not as late. The flight, which also only operates on Tuesdays and Fridays, departs ROR at 20:55 and lands just before 22:30 at MNL.

Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock

Across 18 flights next month, United has the following offered:

• 1,494 seats to ROR
• 1,494 seats to MNL
• A total of 3,113,494 ASMs

4

Kosrae, Micronesia – Kwajalein, Marshall Islands

18 flights

United’s service between KSA and KWA also has nine flights scheduled in each direction. The westbound flight to KWA, UA155, departs on Mondays and Fridays at 15:25, travels for just over an hour, and arrives around 17:30. The eastbound flight, UA154, has frequencies on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It departs from KWA at 12:45 and arrives around 12:55 local time.

Nearly 3,000 seats are offered on the route next month:

• 1,494 seats to KWA
• 1,494 seats to KWA
• A total of 1,195,200 ASMs

While United may be the only passenger airline on many of these routes, it does face competition in the cargo sector as Asia Pacific Airlines operates 757-200 freighters, specifically between KSA and KWA.

5

Kosrae – Pohnpei Island, Micronesia

18 flights

The inter-Micronesia route between KSA and PNI also has a total of 18 flights. Similar to KSA-KWA and MNL-ROR, United will operate nine flights in each direction. UA154 operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays, departing from KSA at 13:35. It arrives about an hour later at PNI at 14:40. The KSA-bound flight is scheduled on Mondays and Fridays as UA155. The flight leaves PNI at 13:30 and arrives at KSA around 14:40.

Photo: Austin Deppe | Shuttertsock

Next month, United will offer the following on the KSA-PNI route:

• 1,494 seats to KSA
• 1,494 seats to PNI
• A total of 1,030,860 ASMs

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