Delta proposes flights between Haneda, Tokyo’s city airport, and 5 new US cities
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| Delta A350 Photo Delta |
The giant US carrier Delta has filed an application this week, with the Department of Transportation because it wants to launch a major route expansion programme to Japan. The Trump supporting airline is seeking approvals to launch daily daytime services between Tokyo-Haneda airport and Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta, and Portland, Oregan. It also would like to start twice-daily services between Haneda and Honolulu.
Whilst major competitor American Airlines has also confirmed that it will submit applications to operate additional service to Tokyo Haneda (HND) from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX) and Las Vegas (LAS). The Delta and American decision to expand services to Japan is a direct result of the US and Japan reaching a tentative agreement last month to expand access at HND, which would open up to 12 additional daytime slot pairs for US carrier operations.
“Tokyo is an important hub for our Pacific Joint Business with Japan Airlines,” said American Airlines President Robert Isom. “Enhanced service at Haneda would give our customers better access to downtown Tokyo and open up JAL’s domestic network with flights to destinations like Osaka, Sapporo and Fukuoka.”
Delta’s proposed routes would be the only direct service currently offered by U.S. carriers between Haneda, Tokyo’s preferred airport for business travellers and the closest to the city centre, and the communities of Seattle, Portland, Atlanta and Detroit.
Together with the carrier’s existing service to Haneda from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles, these new routes would bring Delta’s proven operational reliability and exceptional service to more customers travelling between a broad network of U.S. cities and Tokyo’s preferred airport.
Additionally, Delta’s proposal provides a competitive and comprehensive alternative for consumers to the service offered by other U.S. carriers and their Japanese joint venture partners, ANA and JAL.
Delta’s existing service to Haneda from Minneapolis/St. Paul and Los Angeles has already delivered substantial consumer benefits, including transporting over 800,000 passengers since the inauguration of daytime flights. The airline’s proposal for additional service would:
Provide more attractive flight times for customers arriving and departing Haneda while enhancing connecting opportunities in the Pacific Northwest, Southeast, and Northeast;
Facilitate the development of trade and tourism between five of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas and Tokyo;
Serve a geographically diverse set of markets and communities through the comprehensive route networks offered at each of Delta’s hub gateways;
Provide additional capacity and greater convenience for the large business communities in all of these proposed gateways.
Delta plans to operate the flights using the following aircraft types:
SEA-HND would be operated using Delta’s newest international widebody aircraft, the Airbus A330-900neo. Delta's A330-900neo will feature all four branded seat products – Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin – giving customers more choice than ever before.
DTW- HND would be operated using Delta’s flagship Airbus A350-900 aircraft, the launch fleet type for Delta’s award-winning Delta One Suite.
ATL- HND would be flown using Delta’s refreshed Boeing 777-200ER, featuring Delta One Suites, the new Delta Premium Select cabin and the widest Main Cabin seats of Delta's international fleet.
PDX- HND would be flown using Delta’s Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which features 34 lie-flat seats with direct-aisle access in Delta One, 32 in Delta Comfort+ and 168 seats in the Main Cabin.
HNL-HND would be operated twice daily using Delta’s Boeing 767-300ER. This fleet type is currently being retrofitted with a new cabin interior and inflight entertainment system.
All seats on these aircraft types offer personal inflight entertainment, ample overhead bin space and free inflight messaging. All cabins of service include complimentary meals, snacks and beverages in addition to Delta’s award-winning operational reliability and service.
Delta has served the U.S. to Japan market for over 70 years, and today offers seven daily departures from Tokyo with connections to over 150 destinations across the U.S and Latin America. The airline will launch new service in April between Seattle and Osaka in partnership with Korean Air. Additionally, last year, Delta began partnering with Michelin consulting chef Norio Ueno to create meals for all cabins of service for flights to and from Japan.
Pending government approvals, the new routes would launch with the summer 2020 flying schedule.
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| Tokyo Photo Delta |
