Rumor: DL to announce MSP-ICN soon
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Platinum, Emerald Club Executive Elite
Posts: 2,403
Rumor: DL to announce MSP-ICN soon
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:11 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,619
I hope this doesn't mean that the MSP-Tokyo nonstop (NRT but now HND) flight is being eliminated.
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:16 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Platinum, Emerald Club Executive Elite
Posts: 2,403
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:23 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 28,002
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:25 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Posts: 11,972
Wouldn't DL risk losing the Haneda slot it currently has if it dropped MSP-HND? It's not like they could just switch MSP-HND to ATL/SEA/DTW/JFK-HND at will, so while I won't say "never", I doubt DL will just drop MSP-HND, even if DL or KE launch MSP-ICN. Additionally, the flights would serve two different markets. MSP-HND is all about O&D traffic to and from Tokyo, with few if any onward connections from HND. MSP-ICN would be about both local traffic to ICN as well as facilitating onward connections via KE.
Jun 12, 2018 | 3:49 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Discoverist, Bonvoy Platinum, Emerald Club Executive Elite
Posts: 2,403
Sounds like an official announcement is coming tomorrow. I've seen several places that Ed Bastian announced the addition at a meeting with employees in MSP today. And that he said MSP-HND would stay.
Jun 12, 2018 | 4:47 pm
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Exactly. I just dont see DL giving up the HND authority. If and when they could get more, then maybe theyd give up MSP, but as it stands, I dont see them going with LAX as their only HND gateway.
Jun 12, 2018 | 5:17 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 159
Jun 12, 2018 | 5:35 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: RST
Programs: Delta Diamond; Hilton Diamond; Accor Gold
Posts: 4,842
That is great! That means a one stop flight to South East Asia for me. ��
i have connected MSP-HND-HAN in the past with VN. You get fewer miles and the connection is tight. Since the elimination of MSP-NRT we have had terrible service to South East Asia.
i have connected MSP-HND-HAN in the past with VN. You get fewer miles and the connection is tight. Since the elimination of MSP-NRT we have had terrible service to South East Asia.
Jun 12, 2018 | 6:12 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,980
MSP can support Tokyo service with no problem. If anyone is losing Tokyo service my bet is on PDX. I'm also puzzled why DL operates PDX-LHR. There is no domestic feed on either end. Portland really isn't that big of a city.
Jun 12, 2018 | 6:17 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 2,881
Im not current on how international routes are allocated, but could it be a vestige of the old DL-AS partnership where Delta provided intl service to AS domestic traffic? I also dont know how fast a route in that situation would be dropped after the partnership ends. There could be good O/D too.