United is adding a cool new international route, cutting through another US city

United Airlines is making two significant changes to its network.

It is launching an exciting new international flight from its base at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM) in Guam to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) starting April 2, as first seen in Cirium’s plans and later confirmed by a company spokesperson of the network. .

United will operate its new 1,729-mile route from Guam to Taipei using a Boeing 737-800. Flights will depart Guam at 7 a.m. and arrive in Taipei at 9:25 a.m. The return service will depart at 10:30 a.m. and arrive at 4:20 p.m.

United will operate this flight twice a week.

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Interestingly, this route technically marks the relaunch of United service. That’s because Continental Micronesia flew service until October 2005, nearly five years before United merged with Continental.

These days, China Airlines is the only carrier operating the Guam-to-Taipei route, so United will have a chance to capture the market, especially given its strong presence in Guam since the days of Continental Micronesia.

In addition to the new Guam service, United also flies to Taipei from San Francisco.

“The launch of the new Taipei-Guam service underscores United’s commitment to Guam and the region by opening new routes that offer travelers more ways to enjoy Guam and the region of Micronesia. The opening of the new market will support efforts to restore tourism to the island and the island’s tourism development plans. segment its internal markets The new route provides connectivity convenient for travelers throughout Asia and a new and convenient destination for Guam travelers to enjoy culture Taiwan’s exciting and unique, culinary, environmental, and historical experiences,” said Sam Shinohara, United’s managing director of airline operations for the Asia-Pacific region.

It will be interesting to see how the new route goes, especially since United recently invested in its Asia-Pacific network with some cool new routes, such as Tokyo to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Tokyo to Kaohsiung, Taiwan .

While the airline is doing big things in Guam, United is shrinking another hometown back in the US

This time, the carrier is dropping service to Lewiston, Idaho, starting Feb. 1.

Previously, United flew to Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport (LWS) from its hub in Denver. This route started in October 2021, and now it will be terminated after just three years.

If United leaves Lewiston, Delta will have a monopoly on service to the city with non stops from Salt Lake City and Seattle.

United first began helping Lewiston thanks to funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), supplemented by funding from city government, according to Big Country News.

This funding has run out, and airport officials have been unable to find additional funding to continue the route.

“We are grateful to United Airlines, Nez Perce County, and the City of Lewiston for attempting this route during difficult economic times in the air transportation industry,” Lewiston Airport Director Mike Isaacs said in a statement.

A United spokesperson shared a brief statement that “United will continue to serve Idaho with service to Boise (BOI), Idaho Falls (IDA) and Sun Valley (SUN). We are working with affected customers to help them make alternative travel arrangements . . .

United has cut 41 American cities since April 2020, according to data from airline Ailevon Pacific.

With many cuts, the airline cited pilot shortages and low demand as the main reasons for exiting many markets. These days, the industry is very stable, and while some small markets may come back (like Butte, Montana, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin), others, like Lewiston, may not.

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