TokyoTomo Travel Guide

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on May 7, local time, the distribution of four take-off and landing slots available per day for U.S. carriers on the Tokyo Haneda/U.S. routes. In the proposed decision, selected are Delta Air Lines (DL) for Los Angeles and Detroit routes, American Airlines (AA) for New York route and Hawaiian Airlines for Honolulu route. United Airlines (UA) applied for Haneda slot for a service to San Francisco and Continental Airlines (CO) for services to Newark and Guam, but without success.

Commenting on the proposed decision on Hawaiian Airlines, which currently does not operate the Japan route, DOT said that it would create new competition on the Japan-U.S. routes. Delta’s planned Los Angeles flight would serve the largest market from the west coast and mainland U.S. to Tokyo, continued DOT, adding that its planned Detroit flight would provide access to Haneda from a broad area in the central and eastern United States. Selecting American Airlines’ New York route would serve the second largest market between mainland U.S. and Tokyo, whilst it would also stimulate competition among airline alliances, emphasized the U.S. Department of Transportation.

According to DOT, airlines concerned can challenge the proposed decision within the period of ten days. As of 11 am, Japan time, on May 9, no official comments were issued either by United or Continental. The U.S. Department of Transport will give answers to objections, if any, within seven days after the comment period and, thereafter, will issue a final decision.

Source: Travel Vision

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