On Thursday, the Big Three U.S. airlines filed applications
with the U.S. Department of Transportation for 12 slots opening up at Tokyo's
Haneda airport. In advance of the 2020 Olympics in the Japanese capital, the
U.S. DOT is accepting proposals as it allocates 12 slots for U.S. carriers to
Haneda, which is closer than Narita to central Tokyo. The slots come from a
tentative agreement between the U.S. and Japan that eases airspace restrictions
around the airport. That has created 50 new slots at Haneda, 24 of which will
be divided evenly between U.S. and Japanese carriers, according to The Japan
Times.
United proposes adding three flights to Haneda from Newark,
Los Angeles and Guam. Additionally, United would shift flights that fly from
Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles and Houston Bush airports to land at Haneda
instead of Narita, said United regulatory and policy VP Steve Morrissey. United
currently flies from San Francisco to Haneda.
Delta, meanwhile, also applied for six slots: daytime
service from Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta and Portland, Ore., as well as two daily
flights from Honolulu. Delta currently flies to Haneda from both Los Angeles
and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
American Airlines is asking for four slots, including two
flights from Dallas/Fort Worth and one flight from Las Vegas. American already
has one flight between Haneda and Los Angeles and also is applying for a second
route between these cities.
American has joint business agreements with Japan Airlines
and United has one with Japanese carrier ANA, and they're drawing upon the
potential connections from those agreements in their proposals. Delta,
meanwhile, has
been shifting its traffic from Tokyo to Seoul after establishing a
joint venture with Korean Air but said its proposed flights would provide
"a competitive and comprehensive alternative" to the two JVs. It also
is launching service between Seattle and Osaka in April as part of its JV with
Korean.
Morrissey said he expects the Haneda decisions
will be announced in October. Airlines are aiming to begin service for the
summer 2020 schedule, which begins in March.
Updated on Feb. 21 at 6:35 p.m. to include Delta's and American's applications with the DOT.