Originally Posted by
s0ssos
Wouldn't demand for a non-stop be different than for a one-stop? I presume more would fly a non-stop, plus with a non-stop you can then connect from TYO to another place, so that would add even more traffic (though not sure who DL partners with that would fly from TYO).
Even if DL was to demonstrate that demand for PDX-HND was lousy, I can't imagine the DOT would care. From its perspective, DL can either launch it or decline to launch it. If DL declines, then the award would presumably go to the runner-up (AA LAS-HND, iirc).