Delta have announced they will cancel New York-JFK – Tokyo-Narita, and Tokyo-Narita – Osaka – Bangkok before the close of the year, but have stated the carrier is still very much committed to a strong Asia-Pacific network.
The carrier is slated to receive two of the five available daytime slots at Toyko-Haneda, which would see Los Angeles serving one of the routes, and a new route from Minneapolis. These new slots are part of a new aviation agreement between the United States that limits such access to Tokyo-Haneda.
Vinay Dube, senior vice president – Asia Pacific, has stated that there are significant advantages at hand for Delta’s direct competitors as a result of the new agreement. Delta does not have a joint venture with a Japanese carrier, whereas United Airlines and American Airlines do. United’s joint venture is with ANA, and American’s with Japan Airlines – both ventures have been in place since 2011
Prior to the new agreement, US carriers were only allowed daytime access to Tokyo-Narita airport, which Dube believes is much less desirable. Dube has stated: “Delta has long held that the US government should insist that the Toyko-Haneda airport be fully opened for competition – like all other international airports in countries with which the United States has Open Skies agreements.”
Maintaining split operation in the Japanese capital would mean “valuable traffic will be syphoned away from Delta’s remaining Narita flights to competitors’ more convenient Haneda flights”, believes Dube. Passengers are assured the network changes are to grow and strengthen the carrier’s long-term Asian presence – Delta also plan to upgauge daytime service from Tokyo-Haneda to Los Angeles to Boeing 777 aircraft to provide more capacity.
Customers will be able to purchase tickets for the Tokyo-Narita services once Delta have been granted final approval from the US Department of Transport.
Related Content
