American Airlines today submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation proposing to operate daily, year-round, nonstop service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
American’s application follows the historic signing of a new aviation agreement between the United States and Japan in February to improve U.S. carriers’ access at Tokyo’s close-in Haneda Airport. American is seeking authority to operate service to HND from LAX and DFW utilizing daytime slots.
“Our customers have repeatedly asked for convenient access to downtown Tokyo during the day,” said Andrew Nocella, American’s chief marketing officer. “American’s proposed service provides daytime access to Haneda from our West Coast gateway in Los Angeles and our largest and most centrally located hub in Dallas/Fort Worth – two regions with substantial and growing local and connecting traffic to Asia.”
American’s proposal will maximize public benefits and ensure robust competition in the U.S.-Japan market. The proposed frequencies will improve American’s existing LAX-HND service and establish DFW as the gateway to Haneda for large portions of the United States. Dallas/Fort Worth’s proven local demand, its large presence of Japanese businesses, and its superior connectivity for U.S.-Tokyo travel make it the ideal central U.S. gateway to Haneda. The continuation of American’s LAX-HND service, along with the addition of DFW-HND service, will also bolster oneworld’s ability to compete in the trans-Pacific market.
By June, American will complete two new gates at LAX to support more than 20 new daily flights to nine new year-round and seasonal destinations and added frequencies to existing domestic markets. When the new flights begin June 2, American will operate more than 220 daily flights at LAX with service to more than 70 destinations around the world.
Dallas/Fort Worth is the largest hub for the world’s largest airline, with more than 800 daily flights to nearly 200 destinations in 27 countries. Given its size and location, DFW is uniquely situated to connect Asia to Latin America and Europe. Through DFW, American’s customers will have one-stop service from Haneda to important international business hubs such as London, Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt in Europe, as well as Mexico City, Bogota, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and dozens of other cities in Latin America.
American is investing more than $3 billion in the customer experience – fully lie-flat seats; international Wi-Fi; more in-flight entertainment options and power outlets; and an upgraded assortment of complimentary healthy food, cocktails and more. This is in addition to American’s historic fleet renewal, which has delivered hundreds of new aircraft in recent years. And nearly 100 more new planes are expected to arrive in 2016. American claims that this will be essential for all new services that they plan on starting.
American is also redefining its exclusive Flagship Lounge locations at LAX and DFW with more expansive spaces, more modern furnishings and access for more premium customers. Throughout 2017, American will introduce Flagship Dining, a one-of-a- kind, pre-flight meal with full tableside service and elegant dining, at LAX and DFW. First Class customers on American’s three-class international and transcontinental flights will have exclusive access to Flagship Dining.
Finally, American Airlines are encouraging employees and customers to sign a petition to support the proposal of the new route which they have linked here: aa.com/takeaction – It will be interesting to see whether they get the routes confirmed by the US DOT. United Airlines have also applied to continue services between Haneda and the States earlier this week.
