Originally Posted by
RealHJ
Exactly, so HND flights to HNL would provide the most public benefit: in increasing US federal and state tax collections, creating more jobs, and bringing in more tourists.
HND-HNL will provide the most public benefit to Japan, considering the vast majority of the traffic on the route is Japan-based.
Luckily the DoT realizes that it's in the best interest to help the US-based travelers, not the Japan-based travelers. They have no interest in what will help the local economies the most - they are most interested in what will serve the largest and most important markets, and what will provide the most connectivity.