United Airlines adds cargo capacity to the Marshall Islands

United Airlines (UA, Chicago O'Hare) has operated a series of cargo only flights between Guam International and Majuro in the Marshall Islands this month after the island nation in eastern Micronesia declared a state of emergency following the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounding the only dedicated cargo airline that flew into the country.

As reported in The Guam Daily Post, United Airlines operated cargo only flights into Majuro on April 8, 9, 11, and 13. ch-aviation research reveals the aircraft flying into Majuro from Guam, almost 3,000 kilometres to the west, were operating as UA2819 while the return legs operated as UA2820. Guam-based B737-800s ran the flights.

On April 8, UA2819/20 was flown by N77295 (msn 34001), the April 9 roundtrip was operated by N36280 (msn 31598), the April 11 flights used N37298 (msn 34004), and the April 13 service was again flown by N77295 (msn 34001). Further flights are scheduled on April 16 and 21.

In early February, the FAA grounded Asia Pacific Airlines (Guam) (P9, Guam International), claiming none of their pilots were qualified to fly, a claim the airline disputes and has taken to the NTSB appeals process. However, Asia Pacific Airlines was the only cargo carrier flying into Majuro and it supplied the country with essential freight, including medical supplies and pharmaceuticals. The absence of those flights and the supply shortages it caused resulted in the Marshall Islands government declaring a state of emergency in March and calling on the local aviation taskforce to find a solution.

Aside from the grounded Asia Pacific Airlines and local domestic operator Air Marshall Islands (CWM, Majuro), only United Airlines and Nauru Airlines (Nauru) regularly fly into Majuro, the primary Marshall Islands airport. United Airlines typically operates a thrice weekly B737-800 Guam - Kwajalein Island - Kosrae - Pohnpei - Chuuk - Majuro - Honolulu island hopper service in both directions. Nauru Airlines flies an Australian government subsidised weekly roundtrip island hopper service between Brisbane International and Pohnpei, which operates via Nauru, Tarawa, and Majuro. Nauru Airlines also operated some dedicated cargo flights into Majuro earlier this month however ADS-B flight tracking data indicates those flights have not continued.