Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) yesterday (February 16) filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to offer customers nonstop service between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Seattle/Tacoma, Detroit, Los Angeles and Honolulu. Delta is seeking to compete at Tokyo’s centrally located Haneda airport, which is slated to be re-opened to U.S. carriers for the first time since 1978 under a proposed new aviation treaty with Japan.

Delta’s application proposes new nonstop service, beginning Oct. 31, 2010, between Haneda and four U.S. cities:

• Seattle/Tacoma – This destination – already Delta’s and partner Alaska Airlines’ primary West Coast gateway to Asia– would serve as a convenient connecting point to central Tokyo for customers in 55 U.S. cities, as well as providing nonstop service for Seattle’s large local market. Flights would be operated on 298-seat Airbus A330-300 aircraft.
• Detroit – Service between Detroit and Haneda is a natural addition to Delta’s Eastern U.S. gateway to Asia. Delta’s hub at Detroit, featuring a state-of-the-art 120-gate terminal designed for international connections, will provide one-stop service to Haneda for 106 U.S. cities. Service would be operated on 403-seat Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
• Los Angeles – With flights between Haneda and Los Angeles, Delta would be serving the largest U.S.-Tokyo market, as well as providing one-stop service for customers in 18 U.S. cities. Flights would be operated on Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
• Honolulu – Service between Haneda and Honolulu would provide new options for customers traveling the already popular and competitive leisure route between Tokyo and Hawaii’s largest city.  Delta would operate service with Boeing 747-400 aircraft.