Palau welcomes new United Airlines flight from Narita

BY OYAOL NGIRAIRIKL
Palau Correspondent

AIRAI, Palau — Cheers and greetings met more than 100 visitors at Palau International Airport for the arrival of United Airlines Flight 143, the new nonstop Narita-Palau service. The inaugural flight, which landed at about 10:40 p.m. on Oct. 29, had been long-awaited.

While the service isn’t new — Delta Airlines flew the route until COVID-19 disrupted global travel — its return has been a focus of President Surangel S. Whipps Jr., who has been in talks with multiple airlines and the U.S. and Japanese governments, lobbying for support of an airline.

Whipps flew to Japan earlier in the week to promote the flight at press conferences and similar events. He and United Airlines Vice President Steve Morrissey, flew on the inaugural flight. At Narita airport, a traditional sake barrel ceremony was held to celebrate the new route.

The inaugural Narita - Palau flight was welcomed with a water cannon salture at the Palau International Airport. Photo courtesy Ruder Integrated Marketing Services

At Palau International Airport, Whipps — surrounded by visitors, tour operators, Palau Visitors Authority team members, and his cabinet, thanked United Airlines and critical partners, including Palau International Airport Corp., the Palau Visitors Authority, Tokyo Corp., Palau Pacific Resort, Palau Coral Club, and the Donki group for their support.

Whipps told the crowd, “I said it in Narita ... it takes partnerships to make this happen but we all know that it can't work without the customers. We are so excited that the plane was full. And we're going to need the media and all tour agents here in Palau to make sure we keep it full because Steve said if you fill it up he'll send more ... because why not daily flights? We just have to fill them up.”

Morrissey echoed the appreciation. “We're a large global airline (and) sometimes we need to be reminded of what we really do — it's not just about numbers and airplanes and logistics. It's about people and partnerships. Seeing all of you is a great reminder, this is more than just another flight. It represents partnerships and opportunities and new relationships. And I could not be more thrilled to see your beautiful island. Thank you for welcoming United and thank you for the partnership.”

United said the new route will feature two weekly 5:55 p.m. flights from Narita on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Return flights depart Thursday and Sunday mornings at 11:25 a.m.

Tokyo/Narita (NRT) – Koror (ROR) Service, effective October 29
Flight No.	Depart	Time	Arrival	Time	Frequency
UA143	Tokyo (NRT)	5:55 p.m.	Koror (ROR)	10:50 p.m.	Wed/Sat
UA142	Koror (ROR)	11:25 a.m.	Tokyo (NRT)	4:00 p.m.	Thu/Sun

The new service enables easy one-stop connections for travelers coming from the mainland U.S. or directly from Tokyo to experience the pristine marine ecosystems, UA officials said. United also serves Palau from Guam and Manila.

In a press release, Morrissey noted the new connection afforded to regional travelers.

“Our new direct flights between Palau and Japan with onward connections to the U.S. reflects our commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and supporting the growth of local economies,” he said. “This new route will provide our customers greater travel choice and the opportunity to visit many attractions in each destination and strengthens our longstanding partnership with Palau. United continues to expand in places our customers want to travel, and our new service to Palau is a great example of that.”

Whipps also remarked on the expanded opportunity. “This new direct flight to Japan marks another important milestone in expanding opportunities for travel, commerce, and cultural exchange. We are grateful to United Airlines for their continued partnership and leadership in reconnecting Palau to the world. Their swift action to resume flights after the pandemic, and commitment to restoring our air links, has been crucial to our economic revival.”

The new flight departs Tokyo/Narita at 5:55 p.m. and arrives in Palau at 10:50 p.m. local time. Return flights from Palau to Tokyo/Narita depart at 11:25 a.m. and arrive at 4:00 p.m. United will operate the flights with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft, offering 166 seats – 16 of which are in business class.

By the end of 2026, United will replace the Boeing 737-800 that currently serves the route with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. These aircraft will feature United’s signature interior with seatback entertainment in every seat, larger overhead bins for every passenger's carry-on bag, Wi-Fi available for purchase, more extra-legroom seating, and wireless Bluetooth connectivity, as well as a bright look-and-feel with LED lighting, bringing customers a more modern onboard experience.

In the early 2000s, Japanese travelers led Palau’s tourism market, peaking at 38,145 visitors in 2014, out of a total 125,425. Those numbers began dropping as Chinese groups filled the market, increasing from 9,330 travelers in 2013 to 91,095 in 2015, with total visitor numbers for those years at 110,611 and 168,424, respectively.

Moments after landing at the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport in Palau on October 29, 2025, His Excellency The Honorable Surangel Whipps, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, and Steve Morrissey, Vice President, International Regulatory & Policy for United Airlines, (first row, from left), celebrate the inaugural flight of the new route between Tokyo Narita, Japan and Koror, Palau. Photo courtesy Ruder Integrated Marketing Strategies

The large and sudden influx of visitors pushed Palau “just a little too fast into what I would have considered a mass market,” tour business owner Samuel Scott has told the Journal. “There were just so many tourists,” he said. “We would go to jellyfish lake and having 450 people there … it took away from the pristine experience.” See Journal story: Longtime Palau businessman reflects on ebb and flow of tourism

In 2020, travel came to a screeching halt as the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the world.

Since taking office in 2021, Whipps and his cabinet have worked to rebuild tourism, shifting focus from mass to high-end, sustainable tourism aimed at providing unique experiences.

Monthly arrivals for August 2025 reached 6,061 visitors in Palau, with 625 Japanese tourists making up 625 — 10% of the total. For the year through August, arrivals from Japan totaled 4,523, a 38% increase over the same period in 2024, following years of contraction due to a lack of direct flights.

With United’s Narita route launch, tourism officials expect a boost in Japanese visitor numbers. Palau Visitors Authority projects Japanese arrivals could double, reaching 8,000 to 10,000 annually by 2026 if demand holds, potentially returning to pre-pandemic levels. Japan has long played a crucial role in Palau’s tourism, and the new direct service makes the destination more attractive for leisure and group travel. Leisure travelers dominate demand, and 78% of visitors are first-timers — an encouraging trend for market growth and partnerships.

Palau’s recovery is driven by a diverse visitor base, but the Japanese market remains vital. Japanese tourists accounted for 10% of August arrivals and show renewed interest following the introduction of the United service. Marketing began swiftly in Japan after the flight was announced, with PVA and Japan tour partners collaborating, including outreach through influential travel publications like Figaro Japon.

Whipps has positioned sustainable tourism as a cornerstone of Palau’s long-term strategy, inviting travelers from Japan, Asia, and beyond to help preserve the islands’ environment. By fostering partnerships and accessibility, the government aims for growth supporting both the economy and Palau’s conservation goals. Whipps also envisions Palau as a regional gateway, attracting tourists, business, and cultural exchanges across Micronesia, the South Pacific, and between Asia and Europe. mbj