The new amendment to the Open Skies agreement will provide daytime services by USA and Japanese air carriers between US airports and Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) for the first time since 1978.
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The new flights are expected to begin as early as this fall, the U.S. State Department said in a statement announcing the agreement. A fifth daytime slot pair for scheduled service to and from Haneda would also be added.
Delta, however, said it is “deeply disappointed with the final agreement reached today between the United States and Japanese governments to incrementally open the Tokyo-Haneda airport”.
Delta has suggested that improving US carriers’ access to Haneda could prompt more USA customers to choose Haneda instead of Narita, possibly imperling Delta’s hub at Narita.
Both American Airlines Group Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. have partnerships with Japanese carriers that may increase the financial benefits of the new deal.
“Under the current agreement, U.S. airlines have a total of four slot pairs (four arrivals and four departures) for service to and from Haneda, which are now restricted to use during nighttime hours”.
An American Airlines jet prepares to depart Los Angeles International Airport for Tokyo Haneda Airport.
The airline had mounted an effort led by Delta’s special counsel and retired chief legal officer Ben Hirst to oppose a deal in advance of the talks, which revolved around rights to fly between the United States and Tokyo’s close-in Haneda Airport, only minutes from the center of the sprawling city.
United struck a similar tone.
Steve Johnson, American’s executive vice president of corporate affairs, said in an interview that he expects Narita will remain Japan’s connecting point for flights to other countries in Asia, whereas Haneda will help feed passengers to other destinations inside Japan.
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“Offering daytime service to and from the heart of Tokyo will create appealing new business and leisure travel opportunities for our global customers. Delta will make a careful assessment and adjust our network accordingly”.
