On October 29, United Airlines inaugurated its Tokyo/Narita–Koror route. Operated under fifth-freedom rights from Tokyo/Narita, it is the only nonstop service linking Japan and Palau.
The service operates twice weekly: departures from Tokyo/Narita on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and from Koror on Thursdays and Sundays. United deploys a Boeing 737-800 configured with 166 seats (16 in business class and 150 in economy). Flight UA143 from Tokyo/Narita departs at 5:55 p.m. and arrives in Koror at 10:50 p.m. The return flight, UA142, leaves Koror at 11:25 a.m., arriving at Tokyo/Narita at 4:00 p.m. There is no time difference between Japan and Palau. Block times are 4 hours 55 minutes from Tokyo/Narita and 4 hours 35 minutes from Koror.
United has been expanding its fifth-freedom network from Tokyo/Narita using Guam-based aircraft and crews. It began with daily Cebu service on October 27, 2024, followed by Ulaanbaatar service on May 1, 2025 (three round trips per week) and daily Kaohsiung service on July 11, 2025. The Koror service is the fourth such fifth-freedom route.
Kenichi Kiriyama, United’s Managing Director of Sales for Asia Pacific, said, “What used to take about half a day via Guam between Japan and Palau can now be done in under five hours. That’s a major advantage.” He expects demand from leisure travelers, those visiting friends and relatives (VFR), and educational trips to learn about history, as well as premium-leisure passengers connecting from North America.
Regarding the twice-weekly frequency, he added, “We would like to increase it,” while also proposing itineraries that combine the new nonstop with existing Guam connections: “By combining the Guam route, travelers can mix and match various patterns for the outbound and return.”
▲ Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. (left) and Stephen Morrissey, United Airlines Vice President, International Regulatory and Policy
A ceremony was held at Narita Airport in Japan, where Stephen Morrissey, United’s Vice President of International Regulatory and Policy, remarked, “Palau is a special place. For customers in Japan and the United States, this will be a new gateway to some of the most beautiful islands in the Pacific.”
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. also attended, welcoming the launch as “a major step toward advancing exchange, trade, and tourism in Palau.” Citing the “Japan–Palau Friendship Bridge,” built with Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to connect Koror Island and Babeldaob Island, he said, “This nonstop flight is truly a bridge between Japan and Palau—a bridge that will connect families, businesses, and many opportunities,” and joined stakeholders in a kagami-biraki sake barrel ceremony to celebrate the launch.
The inaugural departure from Tokyo/Narita carried 153 passengers and pushed back at 5:46 p.m. It was seen off with a water salute by airport fire trucks before heading to Palau.
Schedule UA143 Tokyo/Narita (17:55) – Koror (22:50) / Wed, Sat UA142 Koror (11:25) – Tokyo/Narita (16:00) / Thu, Sun
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