Summary
- Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport is Guam’s only international airport, opened in 1943 and serving as a hub for Asia-Pacific (cargo) and United Airlines.
- The airport’s security process differs for passengers arriving from different locations, with some being exempt from passing through TSA again on arrival.
- Eight regular scheduled carriers connect Guam to Asia and the United States.
In the North Pacific Ocean is the United States territory of Guam. A hub for Asia-Pacific and United Airlines, the airport also welcomes a range of other Asian carriers. Simple Flying decided to look into who connects the isolated part of the US to the rest of the world.
The home and former Naval Air Station Agana, Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM), remains the only international airport in the territory. Named after the first delegate from Guam to the mainland United States, Antonio Borja Won Pat, it was officially opened in 1943, making the airport over 81 years old.
Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) maintains all security inspections for departing and transit passengers. Tthe TSA screens those who arrive from the US or Noerhtern Marina Islandsat their origin, so they do not need to pass through TSA again on arrival. However, those coming in from Honolulu and with an onward connection must still pass through security as they come into contact with their baggage during US customs inspection.
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Customs facilities
As all flights to and from Guam require customs and immigration, the airport post-security concourse blends both arriving and departing passengers. The only entrance to the terminal is through security, and exit is through immigration. One exception is for Honolulu arrivals, which are directed to a separate arrival corridor. What makes this unique is those arriving from ports apart from Honolulu could stop for food before clearing immigration and entering Guam.
Photo: Airbus
Carriers serving Guam
Eight regular scheduled carriers connect Guam to Asia and the United States, with one seasonal charter. The most popular destination is Honolulu, Hawaii, with over 106,000 passengers traveling between the ports between October 2022 and 2023. These results are based on Flightradar24 for a week in January 2024:
Japan Airlines
Serving a direct connection to Tokyo Narita, JAL deploys a Boeing 767-300 six days a week. Flight duration is just over three hours.
Jeju Air
Jeju operates three daily services from South Korea to Guam, twice daily from Seoul Incheon, and a daily service from Busan. All flights were booked with the Boeing 737-800.
Jin Air
From Busan, Jin Air serves Guam daily, alongside a double daily service from Seoul Incheon, linked to Jeju Air; all its flights are operated with the B737.
Korean Air
The Korean flag carrier operates two daily flights between its home at Seoul Incheon and Guam. Its morning flight is deployed on the Boeing 777-300, while an afternoon departure is operated with a B737.
Philippine Airlines
Manila is connected by Philippine Airlines with a daily service onboard its Airbus A321. The flight is overnight, so it arrives in Guam very early at the eye-watering time of 03:55.
Star. Marianas Air
Rota is connected with Guam in the Northern Mariana Islands with a five-weekly service.
T’way Air
Flights from Seoul Incheon to Guam take off up to nine times a week with TIts. Its B737 makes the journey between the two airports.
United Airlines
United utilizes Guam as its Northern Pacific base, connecting many US territories to Guam and the rest of the United States, with direct services to Chuuk, Fukuoka, Honolulu, Koror, Kosrae, Kwajalein, Majuro, Manila, Nagoya–Centrair, Osaka–Kansai, Pohnpei, Saipan, Tokyo–Narita and Yap. It is by far the largest carrier in operation at Guam.
Asia Pacific Airline, also calls Guam home, however this is a cargo only carrier.
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