A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam

History

The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GIAA), was created as a government entity by public law - P.L. 13-57. Prior to the enactment, the airport business was handled as a division of the Department of Commerce until January 1976 when the Airport Authority took over terminal operations in the facility, the former Commuter Terminal, and now a leased facility. At that time, the only three carriers using the facility and servicing Guam were Pan American Airways, Continental Air Micronesia and Japan Airlines.

Since then, GIAA has built two new terminal buildings. The first one, funded by $43M in revenue bonds was completed in 1982 and was referred to as the "white elephant" because most island leaders thought it would never reach capacity. However, within its fifth year of tenancy and operations, the first terminal was over-crowded and bursting at the seams with passengers.

The second and current terminal is the end product of a $241M expansion and construction project fully completed in September of 1998, making it the largest single capital improvement project ever completed on Guam.

In January of 2022, GIAA completed its third largest capital improvement program, the International Arrivals Corridor (IAC) The IAC is a 3rd floor sterile corridor that sits atop the concourse level of Guam’s Airport, accessible through “pods” that provides vertical ascent via elevator and/or elevator from passenger gates to the sterile corridor and routed directly to the US Customs and Border Protection Hall, completely separated from departing passengers.

A new $27.2M Aircraft Fire Facility housing our Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Unit (ARFF) boasts state of the art equipment and operations with the latest technology and its own water reservoir to ensure efficient and effective response to all points of the airfield and terminal facilities. The ARFF station was put into operation in August of 2022.

In March 2023, GIAA completed rehabilitation of Primary Runway 6L/24 at a cost of $27.4M, hardening surfaces and shoulders and is able to accommodate fully-loaded, long-range flights from the US West Coast.

GIAA continues its mission to “ensure the safety and security of the traveling public, is dedicated to maintaining a superior and reliable level of airport services for our island residents and tourists; and committed to supporting the development of air linkages and facilities which are integral parts of the island’s future economic growth,” embarking on sustainable initiatives that will enhance our operations, facilities and grow traffic for the prosperity of all who work and live on the Island of Guam, USA.

Sidebar

Quicklinks