Community News
Santa deployed United flight crews to spread holiday cheer across Micronesia
United Airlines Worldwide Media Relations
January 8, 2026
United Airlines welcomed 75 children in Koror, Palau, on Dec. 23, 2025, to a holiday celebration at the Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (Palau International Airport), where they received gifts from Santa. The event was part of a Micronesia-wide United celebration organized by pilots and flight crews from Guam and Hawaii as part of the Christmas Through the Islands and 40th Anniversary of the Hawaii Fantasy Flight events. (Photo courtesy of United Airlines Worldwide Media Relations)
Guam and Hawaii, January 7, 2026 — At United Airlines, Good Leads the Way—especially during the holidays. Following the success of Fantasy Flight events in Guam on December 5, 2025, and Honolulu on December 6, 2025, Santa enlisted United’s pilots and flight crews to deliver Christmas joy to children across Micronesia through a series of holiday celebrations.
United teams in Hawaii and Guam came together to do what only they can: use the airline’s unique Island Hopper service to spread holiday cheer across the Pacific. For more than 55 years, United’s Island Hopper flight (UA154/155) has connected Honolulu (HNL) and Guam (GUM), stopping along the way in Majuro (MAJ), Kwajalein (KWA), Kosrae (KSA), Pohnpei (PNI), and Chuuk (TKK). United also serves Koror, Palau (ROR), and Yap (YAP), making the airline a vital link between these island communities.
Guam-Based Pilots Share Christmas Cheer Along the Island Hopper Route
From December 18–23, United pilots based in Guam, along with the Guam Flight Operations team, hosted their third annual Christmas Through the Islands celebration. Building on the momentum of earlier Fantasy Flight events, the team delivered gifts to children at Island Hopper stops, as well as in Palau and Yap.
“Christmas Through the Islands began three years ago as a way for our pilots to share holiday cheer with the communities we visit along the Island Hopper route,” said Errol Lee, Chief Pilot for United Airlines in Guam. “This year, our team fundraised to assemble 525 gift stockings filled with stuffed animals, school supplies, and candy for children in Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Ebeye, and Majuro.”
Working closely with United’s General Managers in each island, Santa’s elves in uniform helped plan festive airport celebrations, inviting local children to meet Santa and receive gifts.
Chief Pilot Lee added, “Our Guam-based pilots exclusively serve the Island Hopper. This tradition allows us to give back and share the Christmas spirit with the island communities we’ve proudly served—and loved—for more than five decades.”
Hawaii Team Expands Fantasy Flight to Celebrate 40 Years of Holiday Magic
In 2025, United marked the 40th anniversary of Fantasy Flight in Honolulu by expanding the program to 10 locations across Hawaii and Micronesia throughout the month of December.
With the airline’s Good Leads the Way campaign as its driving force, the Hawaii team was inspired to expand upon the Fantasy Flight experience to more children across the Pacific in 2025.
To support the Micronesia events, United employees in Honolulu organized toy and clothing drives and loaded a Boeing 737-800 with Fantasy Flight shirts, United memorabilia, gifts, and holiday treats. Partnering with local organizations, the teams hosted celebrations for more than 625 children and their families across seven island communities:
Kwajalein (Dec. 8): A special parade organized by the Chamber of Commerce took place in Ebeye, followed by a visit to a local elementary school to distribute gifts.
Pohnpei (Dec. 12): United hosted a holiday parade, distributing more than 100,000 pieces of candy, 400 clothing items, and countless gifts.
Majuro (Dec. 14): Children enjoyed a festive beachside celebration featuring a “beachy winter wonderland.”
Kosrae (Dec. 19): United partnered with a local organization to host holiday festivities for children.
Yap (Dec. 21): A Christmas celebration at the airport included gifts and a tour of a United aircraft.
Palau (Dec. 22): Children gathered in the United airport lobby to celebrate and receive gifts from Santa.
Chuuk (Dec. 24): United employees hosted a Christmas Eve celebration with treats, activities, and gifts from Santa.