In an often overlooked area of the Western Pacific long dominated by United, Philippine Airlines is stepping up its challenge in the region with new routes to Guam, Saipan, and Palau.
During the year 2025, Philippine Airlines welcomed a global aviation industry veteran – Richard Nuttall – as its new President while continuing to expand its route network from its hubs at Manila and Cebu. As the Philippine flag carrier faces increased challenges from foreign airlines in its own home turf, the delivery of the first widebody Airbus A350-1000 is expected to boost its ability to operate more flights and add new long-haul routes. With big ambitions for its future, Philippine Airlines has taken steps to boost its presence in an often overlooked region close to home – the islands of Micronesia. In an area in the Western Pacific that includes the islands of Guam, Saipan, and Palau, the area has long been dominated by United Airlines. As Philippine Airlines launches new routes to the three islands, it is stepping up its challenge to United in what can be considered as the US carrier's own playground in the western Pacific.
Image: Philippine Airlines Airbus A350-1000 (Source: Airbus)
Philippine Airlines Launching New Routes in United's Western Pacific Playground
United's presence in Micronesia goes back to the former Continental Airlines through its subsidiary Continental Micronesia starting in late 1960s. Prior to the the merger with United in 2010, Continental had already been operating flights between Guam and Manila. It would not be until 2023 when the Chicago-based airline launched its own direct flights from San Francisco to Manila. A year later, United would use Guam-based Boeing 737s to launch a Fifth Freedom route from Tokyo Narita to Cebu. The two routes added to United's foundation and its Pacific playground that features its daily flights between Manila and Guam, and the additional twice-weekly flights from Manila to Palau.
Image: United Airlines Boeing 737-800 at Tokyo Narita Airport
While facing recent challenges from United on its direct flights to/from the US and the Narita-Cebu route, Philippine Airlines has long maintained the majority of flights between the Philippines and the US – including the daily direct service between Manila and the US territory of Guam. Cebu Pacific would launch its own competing service on the route in 2016. Within a few years the Philippine budget carrier eventually suspended the route in 2019.
As the lone full service carrier of the Philippines, Philippine Airlines is now taking steps to counter United's increased presence in the country. It is doing so with new routes in United's Pacific playground such as between Cebu and Guam which was launched before the end of 2025. The Cebu-Guam route will be followed by a return to Saipan and a new service to Palau. Both starting March 29, Philippine Airlines will operate two weekly flights on each route from Manila. Philippine Airlines will soon compete with United's own flights from Manila to Palau, and will become the lone airline operating direct flights from Manila to Saipan.
Philippine Airlines +190-seat A321s vs United's 166-seat Guam-based 737s
The three islands of Micronesia are within a 3-4 hour flight from the Philippines, which allows both airlines to use their narrowbody aircraft. Philippine Airlines uses its Airbus A321s with more than 190 seats, while United uses its Pacific-configured Boeing 737-800s with 166 seats.
Now operating flights from both Manila and Cebu to Guam, Philippine Airlines is even with United when it comes to routes offered to Micronesia from the Philippines. However, the thrice-weekly Cebu-Guam route now give Philippine Airlines the edge in weekly flights and seat capacity between the Philippines and Guam. This advantage is expected to be further increased by April 2026 after the Manila-Palau and Manila-Saipan routes are launched on March 29.
United will continue to maintain the advantage on flights between Manila and Guam with 9 including the twice-weekly flights via Palau. Philippine Airlines' 10 flights to Guam comprises of the seven weekly Manila-Guam and the thrice-weekly Cebu-Guam services. With more flights and the use of the higher capacity A321s, Philippine Airlines now has the largest weekly seat capacity between the Philippines and Guam.
As Philippine Airlines further increases its flights and seat capacity to the Micronesian islands, both airlines are also stepping up their inflight amenities and services. Philippine Airlines recently deployed its newly retrofitted Airbus A321s featuring new interiors, in-seat entertainment screens, and power charging outlets on its flights to Guam. United is in the process of replacing its Guam-based Boeing 737-800 fleet with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Featuring United's newer interiors, the seats include personal entertainment screens with Bluetooth connectivity, charging ports, and will eventually have Starlink-powered inflight Wi-Fi.
Notes:
1. Seat capacity: PR A321 Bi-Class configuration with 194 seats (Source: Philippine Airlines), UA 737-800 Pacific configuration with 166 seats (Source: United)
2. Flight schedule data from flightradar24 (January 4-10)
3. PR/UA other direct flights to US and UA's NRT-CEB flights are excluded
4. UA ROR-MNL includes x2 weekly from GUM
More Travel Options and Economic Boost
Philippine Airlines' new routes are expected to provide more travel options for residents of Guam, Saipan, and Palau – especially for the local Filipino communities. They are also expected to make it more accessible for those seeking to visit those islands, which can provide a much needed boost to the local economies. The services provided by United and Philippine Airlines have their own advantages for those traveling to/from the area.
United takes advantage of its Guam hub, where many residents are members of its frequent flier program. With an evening departure from Guam to Manila, the return flight arrives in the following morning. These flights are timed to allow for connections onto flights from Guam to Honolulu and Saipan. Travelers bound for Honolulu can choose to take the daily direct Guam-Honolulu flights or the longer, famous Island Hopper route.
Philippine Airlines is the alternative option to travel in the Westward direction. After arriving in Manila, passengers can connect to Philippine Airlines' network of domestic destinations. International flight connections can also be done to cities without direct air links from Guam such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. With Philippine Airlines' recent expansion of its domestic flights from Cebu, the airline now offers more connections to cities in the central and southern Philippines.
Image: Philippine Airlines A321 parked at the gate at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport
Saipan has limited direct air services. At present, the island is served by flights to Guam and Tokyo Narita by United, along with Hong Kong (Hong Kong Airlines), Seoul (T'way Air and Jeju Air), and Busan (Air Busan). The return of Philippine Airlines to the island will provide more travel options for residents and visitors alike.
Of the three islands, Palau is probably is the most interesting destination that Philippine Airlines will soon be flying to. Contrast to Guam and Saipan which have seen routes gradually reduced in recent years, the independent island nation has seen the introduction of new air routes in 2025 from Brisbane by Australia's Qantas and Tokyo Narita by United. While United added to its presence with its third connection from the island serving along with the flights to Guam and Manila, Philippine Airlines' new flights will allow for connections via Manila to/from other cities in East/Southeast Asia including Japan. With the addition of Philippine Airlines' flights from Manila, Palau has direct air links to eight international destinations.
The islands of Micronesia is probably the one of the last places anyone would consider for an interesting competition between big airlines. Yet even with its own bigger ambitions, Philippine Airlines is looking to strengthen its presence in the nearby islands that United has long been the dominant carrier. Both airlines are competing not just in flights, but also stepping up their inflight amenities and connecting options. The real winners are the residents of the islands who have long faced limited travel options to/from the region.
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