by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:45 AM ET, Fri February 22, 2019
As Tokyo's Haneda International Airport opens up new slots ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games, three of the biggest airlines in the United States announced bids Thursday.
According to Reuters.com, carriers had to submit plans to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) by the Thursday deadline, with United Airlines bidding for six slots, Delta Air Lines for five and American Airlines for four.
The U.S. government was granted extra slots after the two countries reached a deal opening new flight paths around a nearby Air Force base, which will allow for more flights ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
If approved, the new routes would launch for the 2020 summer flying schedule.
For United, the airline wants to fly to Haneda International from its hubs at Chicago O'Hare, Houston George Bush, Los Angeles International, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles and Antonio B. Won Pat International in Guam.
United has even called on customers to help support their bid for more flights to Tokyo by asking people to send letters of public support to the DOT. The carrier even launched a dedicated website to support the effort.
Delta bid for additional daily flights to Tokyo from Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta and Portland, as well as twice-daily service between Haneda and Honolulu. American also applied for a daily flight from Las Vegas and Los Angeles and twice-daily service from its hub in Dallas.
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