by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 2:45 PM ET, Thu November 9, 2023
United Airlines filed an application this week with the U.S. Department of Transportation to fly daily nonstop flights between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).
If the proposed route is approved, United will be the first U.S. air carrier to fly nonstop between the two locations, connecting 64 destinations across the southern United States to Tokyo, a region which represents 21 percent of all U.S. mainland travel to the Asian metropolis.
Currently, Houston offers only one flight to Haneda. By comparison, New York/Newark offers five, Los Angeles offers seven and Chicago has three. United currently offers flights to Tokyo via its Haneda and Narita airports via all seven of the line’s U.S. hubs.
The city of Houston also has direct economic ties to Japan. Japanese-owned companies directly employ over 70,000 people in Texas, with over 240 Japanese-affiliated companies in Houston alone.
"Between its steadily growing population and its booming energy and innovation sectors, the Houston area has transformed into a critical hub for both business and leisure travel," said Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President, Global Network Planning and Alliances at United Airlines, in a statement.
"If awarded by the DOT, this new service will enhance travel options to Tokyo Haneda for consumers across the Southern United States, and strengthen the economic partnership between Japan and more than 240 affiliated businesses in the greater Houston area."
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