Originally Posted by
evergrn
I didn't read the entire document, but I don't understand why DL was awarded so many slots. They'd already pulled the plug on SEA-HND 2x and DTW-HND at least 1x (granted both were red-eyes). They've always struck me as uncommitted and fickle when it comes to Asia. I don't see there being enough demand for 2 daily DL flights from TYO to PDX or SEA (and perhaps also ATL). This probably means DL terminates NRT services from each of those markets. SEA has never been able to support 4 daily flights to TYO, for instance. I think UA and AA would be more likely to keep their NRT flights even if they're awarded HND slots. By awarding more HND flights to DL, we're likely looking at less total # of flights to TYO in the future than we could've had.
The DOT continues to take a view that because DL has no JV partner in Japan they have wider latitude for slots because they are competing against two revenue-neutral JVs (UA/NH & AA/JL) and the have historically taken into account the full allotment of slots to the JV rather than just the individual UA or AA portion