Delta Air Lines has announced it will discontinue its Seattle-Tokyo Haneda service from September 30.
American Airlines, which filed a request with US regulators last year seeking to take over Delta's flight rights to the Japanese airport (see news, October 2014), will now launch a route to Haneda from Los Angeles in October.
There is a limit to the number of foreign flights into Japan — four in the case of the United States — and US regulators are tasked to oversee that the level of access is controlled.
Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said: "Delta has determined that its Seattle-Haneda service is not viable under the current regulatory and market conditions, and therefore will suspend service.
"[The airline] remains committed to our international hub in Seattle and will continue to provide Seattle-Tokyo service via our daily non-stop service to Tokyo Narita. In addition, Delta will continue to serve Tokyo Haneda from Los Angeles International airport."
Delta's final Seattle-Haneda service will depart the US on September 28, with the last return flight leaving Tokyo on September 30.
American's LAX-Haneda operation will compete with Delta and ANA's Tokyo services.
American spokesman Casey Norton said: "We're excited to be flying from LAX to Haneda this fall, and we look forward to giving our customers better access to downtown Tokyo and further building on our presence in Asia."
Graham Smith
