Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
Northwest did fly such as NRT-KIX-SPN, but NRT-KIX portion was only available to passengers continuing on international or connection from international flights. Passengers could not simply buy ticket on NRT-KIX portion only and flew purely domestic portion only without having a ticket associated with international flights.
This was also the case with JAL's NRT-NGO "international" flight.
Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
I am no historian, but I am not sure if the U.S. officially used the term “occupation” regarding the situation in Japan after the World War II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_Japan
Originally Posted by
AlwaysAisle
Anyway, the U.S. government awarded PanAm and Northwest Airlines for its contribution during WWII by giving route authority to Tokyo and same time gave PanAm and Northwest Airlines fifth freedom right beyond Tokyo. Japan had no say over that decision, and Japan was not allowed to have any airlines. Even in 1953 when Japan Airlines resumed operation, Japanese citizens were not allowed to fly aircraft. Japan Airlines flight was piloted by the U.S. pilots back then. PanAm and Northwest Airlines could carry passengers beyond Tokyo as local passengers. PanAm and Northwest could sell ticket and carry passengers originated from Tokyo to other Asian destinations, passengers did not have to originate from the U.S.
There was eventually some reciprocity and Japanese carriers were given fifth freedom rights beyond the US as well. JAL flew from the US to South America for a long time (ending just before their recent bankruptcy). I believe that they also served Mexico through the US at one point, and at one point they even flew transatlantic as part of a round-the-world routing.
The fifth freedoms were kind of necessary for NW and PA at the time as planes didn't have the range to fly nonstop to other Asian countries.