The U.S. Department of Transportation today tentatively awarded two route authorities to launch service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Delta Air Lines and one apiece to American Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.
Five U.S. carriers, including Continental Airlines and United Airlines, vied for the four daily slots pairs at Haneda, marking the first chance U.S. carriers have had to serve the downtown Tokyo airport in more than 30 years. DOT said the tentative Open Skies agreement between the United States and Japan late last year opened up the opportunity to renew access
(BTNonline, Dec. 14, 2009).
Delta plans to launch service to the airport from Los Angeles and Detroit, while American is planning New York-originating service and Hawaiian will serve Haneda from Honolulu. Once DOT finalizes its decision, after a 10-day commentary period it will require carriers to launch service by Jan. 29, 2011, but not before a new runway opens at the airport in the fall.