In travel news for May , 2023 we talk about the public dispute between United and Delta over Japan.
A heated dispute has erupted between United Airlines and Delta Air Lines over service to Tokyo International Airport (HDN) also known as Haneda Airport, as the limited number of daily landing rights allotted by the Department of Transportation has led to tensions between the carriers. Delta has requested that the Department of Transportation modify the rules to allow for more flexible scheduling to Tokyo, while United, seeking new Department of Transportation authority to serve Tokyo, Japan from Houston, Texas and Guam, insists that changes should only be made through a competitive, public process.
The conflict began when Delta proposed that U.S. airlines be permitted to use up to two Tokyo slots to serve any U.S. gateway, under a three-year pilot program. American Airlines has expressed support for Delta's Proposal. Delta contends that the pandemic has altered the demand for service to Japan, and granting route flexibility would enable airlines to better adapt to evolving market dynamics.
Currently, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Hawaiian Airlines hold Tokyo slots, with Delta authorized to serve Haneda daily from various U.S. cities. Hawaiian Airlines has allocations for 21 weekly flights from Honolulu, Hawaii and Kona, Hawaii; while American holds twice-daily allocations from Los Angeles, California and a daily flight from Dallas/Fort Worth. United has daily Tokyo allocations from multiple cities, with twelve of those granted during a competitive process in 2019.
Due to pandemic-related waivers, carriers are not required to utilize their Tokyo slots at present, but this is set to change by November 1st. United and American Airlines are expected to use all of their Tokyo allocations for July, while Delta Air Lines is not scheduled to use its landing rights from Portland, Oregon or Honolulu, Hawaii. In its Department of Transportation filing, Delta did not specify which routes it intends to discontinue or where it would like to serve Tokyo, Japan instead, but cited weak demand from Portland and Honolulu.
United claims that Delta's high fares on the Portland-Tokyo route indicate an ulterior motive, as Delta's lowest price for a specified round-trip date was significantly higher than one-stop return tickets via Seattle or Los Angeles. United suggested that Delta is not interested in selling tickets, but rather aims to move flights to different locations. Delta has not directly commented on United's allegations but maintains its support for the petition submitted to the DOT.
For travelers, the outcome of this dispute may impact available routes and fare prices when flying to Haneda Airport in Tokyo. As airlines adjust to the post-pandemic landscape, the industry's focus on flexibility and evolving market dynamics may lead to changes in service offerings and competitive strategies.
