United Airlines has confirmed it will end service between Guam and Fukuoka, Japan on Oct. 26 as the sluggish rebound of Japanese tourist arrivals continues.

“We regularly evaluate our Guam schedule and make adjustments based on demand and the broader needs of our network,” according to a statement from United Airlines corporate communications office.

During the relaunch of the Fukuoka flight in 2022, United’s managing director of airport operations for Asia Pacific Sam Shinohara said it’s been their goal to return to pre-pandemic levels, “and we will continue to add capacity between Guam and Japan as demand recovers.”

The cancellation comes as Guam’s visitor arrivals from the once-dominant Japanese market lag well behind pre-COVID pandemic numbers.

According to an industry update report presented at the July 26 Guam Visitors Bureau board meeting, there were 11,214 visitor arrivals from Japan in June, a mere 27.2% of the 40,877 Japan arrivals in June 2019.

However, the 11,214 arrivals in June were a marked increase from the 2,417 Japanese arrivals in June 2023.

United said it will work to “re-accommodate affected customers,” and will continue to fly from Guam to Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo-Narita, and Tokyo-Haneda.

The airline launched daily nonstop flights between Guam and Tokyo Haneda International Airport on May 1, after securing a long sought slot at Japan’s busiest airport located near the center of the country’s largest city, Tokyo.

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