A major upgrade is coming to Guam’s airport, focused on strengthening the terminal and cutting energy costs as the island continues to recover from recent storms.

At the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, officials marked the start of a $21 million project aimed at hardening Guam’s only commercial airport. GIAA executive manager John Quinata says this project has been years in the making, following major damage during 2023's Typhoon Mawar, adding, "When we had Typhoon Mawar, this whole airport was underwater. One of the reasons why it was underwater was because the roof collapsed on us."

Now, that aging roof built in 1994 will be replaced. The project also adds solar panels and battery storage to help keep operations running, even during outages.

GIAA board chairman Brian Bamba says the airport recently avoided major damage from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, but the recent storm reinforces the need to keep investing in resilience. "We were blessed that we didn’t suffer the consequences of this recent typhoon. The airport is a critical infrastructure for the island, but it also is for the region," he said.

That investment includes renewable energy, with officials projecting more than $1.2 millon in savings, especially as fuel costs continue to fluctuate from the Iran conflict. Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio says the timing is critical, as the airport continues to serve as a key hub for the region, moving vital goods and resources to those recovering from Sinlaku.

"The airport is a lifeline and right now," Tenorio announced, adding, "it is playing a critical lifeline to everybody in the Northern Mariana Islands and in the Federated States of Micronesia."

He also points to tourism, saying visitor numbers have yet to fully recover. The airport serves as the front door to destination Guam, the first and last thing visitors will see, as contractor coretech founder and chairman Ho Eun recognizes.

"We all recognize that this terminal provides the first impression to our off-island visitors. We will do our best to protect the anterior of this building from the rain," he said.

The project is funded through the Federal Aviation Administration, with funding first awarded two years ago.