by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:57 AM ET, Fri May 17, 2019
The United States Department of Transportation has tentatively awarded four U.S. carriers a total of 12 new daytime service slots to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Delta Air Lines was the biggest winner after being awarded five of six requested flights, including routes from Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu, Portland and Seattle. United added four destinations serving Haneda: Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles, Newark and Washington Dulles.
"This preliminary order demonstrates the DOT's commitment to encouraging competition and providing more choice for customers traveling between the U.S. and Tokyo's city center," Delta Executive Vice President Steve Sear said in a statement. "This service will allow Delta to combine its superior service, product and operational reliability with the convenience of Tokyo-Haneda's central location-an important win for customers."
American Airlines was awarded two slots and will host service between the Japanese capital and Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles. The new flight to Los Angeles will be American's second daily service between Haneda and LAX.
"We are encouraged by the DOT's tentative decision and look forward to operating more flights into Tokyo Haneda and beyond with our joint business partner, Japan Airlines," American President Robert Isom said. "We understand the unique opportunity we've been granted with new Haneda service from our largest hub at DFW and additional service from LAX, and will deliver a world-class customer experience when flights begin next year."
Hawaiian Airlines also received approval for an additional daily roundtrip flight to Haneda from Honolulu. The carrier would serve the route 12 times daily if the tentative agreement is cemented.
The carriers approved for the service stressed the new flights should be taking off in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
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