The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced tentative approval for 12 new flights between cities in the United States and Tokyo Haneda Airport. A final determination is expected within the coming weeks.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are competing for these 12 slots under a recently signed bilateral agreement. If confirmed, the new services are planned to start in summer 2020, timed to coincide with the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Delta Air Lines has received tentative approval for five new routes to Tokyo Haneda, linking the airport with Seattle (SEA), Detroit (DTW), Atlanta (ATL), Portland (PDX) and Honolulu (HNL).
United Airlines has provisional approval for four daily flights to Tokyo Haneda from Newark (EWR), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Washington Dulles (IAD) and Los Angeles (LAX).
American Airlines has been granted tentative permission for two daily flights: a new service to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and a second daily frequency to Los Angeles (LAX).
Additionally, one of the final available slots could be assigned to Hawaiian Airlines for a new Honolulu (HNL) route, pending the DOT’s definitive decision.