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UA applies for 6x additional HND slots - UA gets EWR, ORD, IAD, LAX

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Old Feb 21, 2019, 1:00 pm
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Last edit by: WineCountryUA
[/QUOTE]
United Airlines Adds Service to Tokyo, Haneda with Routes from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and Washington, D.C.

CHICAGO, Aug. 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines today announced it will begin service between four of its U.S. hubs and Tokyo's Haneda International Airport, located approximately 15 minutes from downtown Tokyo. United will begin operating nonstop service between Chicago, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and Washington, D.C. and Haneda on March 28, 2020, subject to government approval. United currently offers daily nonstop service between San Francisco and Haneda. Tickets for United's new Haneda flights will be available for purchase starting Saturday, August 17.

In addition to United's new Haneda flights, Tokyo's Narita International airport will continue to be a hub for United with nonstop daily service between Narita and Denver, Guam, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark and San Francisco. With the start of these new routes, United will no longer serve Narita from its Chicago and Washington D.C. hubs, and will shift these flights from Narita to Haneda.

"Our new service to Haneda gives our customers more choice and connections to more than 65 destinations throughout Asia. With service beginning next spring, we look forward to providing convenient service for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and beyond," said Patrick Quayle, United's vice president of International Network. "United has offered nonstop service between the U.S. and Japan for more than 40 years and we are excited to expand our Japan network at Tokyo's Haneda Airport and continue to be the largest U.S. carrier to Japan."

United commends the efforts of Secretary Elaine Chao, her team at the U.S. Department of Transportation and officials at the U.S. State Department in making additional services at Tokyo Haneda a reality starting spring 2020.[/quote]





2019 HANEDA COMBINATION SERVICES
ALLOCATION PROCEEDING
DOCKET DOT-OST-2019-0014


U.S. Department of Transportation Tentatively Grants United Airlines Authority to Operate New Service to Tokyo Haneda
New slots from four hubs to Haneda Airport will expand United's best-in-class Japan route network to better meet demand from U.S. consumers and businesses
CHICAGO, May 16, 2019
-- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced that United Airlines was tentatively granted a total of four daily nonstop flights to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). The slots will be allocated for flights from United's hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Pending completion of an aviation agreement between the U.S. and Japanese governments later this year, the flights are expected to begin service by the summer of 2020.

"As the largest U.S. carrier to Asia, we are excited to see we were granted additional slots to Haneda to help more Americans travel between our nation and Japan's capital city, which will offer our customers an unparalleled experience while maximizing choice," said United Airlines President Scott Kirby. "We would like to thank the U.S. Department of Transportation for its work in reviewing our proposal and advocating for what is best for the American public and for our economy. We also recognize the efforts of the U.S. State Department's work with the DOT to enable additional service at Haneda."

Together, the flights from these U.S. mainland hub cities will connect Tokyo Haneda with:
  • The U.S.'s largest metropolitan area and center of finance and commerce, Newark/New York;
  • The most important logistics and transportation hub in the Midwest, Chicago;
  • The seat of the U.S. federal government, Washington, D.C.; and
  • Additional U.S. carrier service in the largest U.S. mainland - Tokyo market at Los Angeles.
This announcement will strengthen United's broad-based and end-to-end network between the United States and Japan. United's proposed flights to Haneda would allow U.S. consumers to make connections to 37 points in Japan via United's joint venture partner All Nippon Airways (ANA), strengthening United's existing comprehensive network. Throughout this proceeding United has been the only U.S. airline to recognize the unique benefits that Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita offer to the traveling public.


Only United has committed to providing service to both Tokyo airports from regions across the United States. United has proven its long-term commitment to Tokyo as a key gateway in Asia, serving Tokyo from all seven of its U.S. mainland hubs. United also serves 31 markets in the Asia/Pacific region, more than any other U.S. carrier, and has successfully launched 11 new nonstop flights from the U.S. mainland to destinations throughout the Asia/Pacific region since 2014.
United Applies to Serve Tokyo Haneda from Six Leading U.S. Hubs Where Demand Is Highest

Proposed daily nonstop flights from hubs at Newark Liberty, Chicago O'Hare, Washington Dulles, Los Angeles International, Houston George Bush and Guam will maximize choice and convenience for U.S. consumers and businesses

CHICAGO, Feb. 21, 2019
-- United Airlines announced today it has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for a total of six daily nonstop flights to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Guam's A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM). Pending completion of an aviation agreement between the U.S. and Japanese governments later this year, and slots awarded by DOT, the flights are expected to begin service by the summer of 2020.

United has presented a proposal maximized to meet consumer demand and benefit U.S. travelers. Together, the flights from five U.S. mainland hub cities and Guam will connect Tokyo Haneda with 112 U.S. airports, representing approximately two thirds of U.S.-Tokyo demand, or more than three million annual Tokyo bookings. With United's proposed routes representing five of the six largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. mainland and a combined population of nearly 56 million, the new flights requested in this proceeding will provide consumers with more choices and more convenient options when selecting Tokyo Haneda for their travel plans.

"If awarded by the DOT, these new nonstop flights would expand United's best-in-class Japan route network to better meet demand from U.S. consumers and businesses," said United Airlines President Scott Kirby. "Tokyo is a hub of 21st century global commerce and innovation and one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Today's filing demonstrates United's unparalleled commitment to helping more Americans travel between our nation and Japan's capital city. Our proposed flights to Tokyo Haneda will offer an unrivaled experience and maximize choice and convenience for our customers traveling between the United States and Tokyo for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and beyond."

United's proposed daily flights from Newark/New York, Los Angeles and Guam would supplement the airline's existing daily flights between those hubs and Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT), while United would shift existing daily nonstop Chicago, Washington D.C. and Houston flights from Tokyo Narita to Tokyo Haneda.United's application will also support American businesses and help grow the U.S. economy by offering direct flights from key business, government and cultural hubs where demand for flights to Haneda, the closest airport to central Tokyo, is the highest. With these new flights in place, United would provide Haneda service from:
  • The largest market for travel demand between the U.S. mainland and Tokyo (Los Angeles);
  • The two largest markets for travel demand between the East Coast and Tokyo (Newark/New York and Washington, D.C.);
  • The two largest markets for travel demand between the central U.S. and Tokyo (Chicago and Houston); and
  • Guam, a market with significant travel demand from a Japanese tourist base that is critical to the island's tourism industry, economy and job market.
United's proposal would help realize the full potential of these new routes for U.S. consumers and businesses by expanding United's broad-based and end-to-end network between the United States and Japan.

United's proposed flights to Haneda would allow U.S. consumers to make connections to 37 points in Japan via United's joint venture partner All Nippon Airways (ANA), strengthening United's existing comprehensive network when combined with nonstop or single-connection service from 112 U.S. airports.

United has proven its long-term commitment to Tokyo as a key gateway in Asia, serving Tokyo from 100 percent of its U.S. hubs. United also serves 31 markets in the Asia/Pacific region, more than any other U.S. carrier, and has successfully launched 11 new nonstop flights from the U.S. mainland to destinations throughout the Asia/Pacific region since 2014.United's application is in response to the U.S. DOT instituting a competitive route proceeding to allocate slot pairs, with today's application filed under DOT proceeding # DOT-OST-2019-0014. For more information about United's bid, please visit www.UnitedToHaneda.com.
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UA applies for 6x additional HND slots - UA gets EWR, ORD, IAD, LAX

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Old May 18, 2019, 9:54 am
  #211  
 
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Originally Posted by PsiFighter37
Clearly it seems like the most negative thing about IAD/ORD-NRT now routing to HND is the lesser lack of connectivity elsewhere. However, is it possible that UA’s data tells it that they simply do not have enough folks connecting onwards via NRT? I would think they should have good insights into this, as most people aren’t going to be booking tickets on separate PNRs like some of us FTers might.
Depends what you mean by negative. IAD/ORD-NRT are likely to remain with NH and US-Asia passengers still have options to connect and O&D passengers will have a more convenient airport. But given that this is FT, the "negative" is that UA FF will lose out on E+, lifetime miles, easier GPU, etc which outweighs everything else.

Even then, the largest connecting destinations that are truly affected if one was dedicated to UA IAD/ORD-TYO-Asia, might be SGN (NH only operates NRT-SGN) and possibly MNL/CAN (currently only a morning NH HND-MNL/CAN)
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Old May 18, 2019, 10:13 am
  #212  
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Originally Posted by usbusinesstraveller

AA was the one IMO covertly proposing reduction in service to Tokyo. LAS was a total non starter. And their other proposals (2x DFW and 1x LAX) are the only daily services they’re flying to NRT. UA called them out on this for not saying whether (AA’s word) “additional” meant additional to NRT service or to current LAX and first preference DFW service to HND.
I fail to see how the US DOT could possibly care about whether or not any of the US carriers scale back NRT operations.
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Old May 18, 2019, 10:16 am
  #213  
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Originally Posted by moondog
I fail to see how the US DOT could possibly care about whether or not any of the US carriers scale back NRT operations.
I would have thought that the DOT would, on balance, care about maintaining or increasing traffic to TYO. That’s why I thought UA’s EWR and LAX frequencies were slam dunks to get approved, while DL’s requests might be viewed somewhat negatively, given it was clear they just want to ditch NRT entirely. That didn’t seem to be the primary (or even secondary) consideration, based on the report, though.
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Old May 18, 2019, 10:24 am
  #214  
 
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Originally Posted by hirohito888
Depends what you mean by negative. IAD/ORD-NRT are likely to remain with NH and US-Asia passengers still have options to connect and O&D passengers will have a more convenient airport. But given that this is FT, the "negative" is that UA FF will lose out on E+, lifetime miles, easier GPU, etc which outweighs everything else.
Losing out on UA benefits and not getting anything in return is indeed a major negative for many of us.

Any speculation on what NH will do with their ~6 new HND to USA slots? Given JL will also get ~6 slots, how much more USA-Japan capacity is needed? I do wonder whether further NRT cuts will come for the same reason as UA.

Originally Posted by hirohito888
Even then, the largest connecting destinations that are truly affected if one was dedicated to UA IAD/ORD-TYO-Asia, might be SGN (NH only operates NRT-SGN) and possibly MNL/CAN (currently only a morning NH HND-MNL/CAN)
From a quick search, the only international destinations that will work with existing HND routes are PEK, PVG, and GMP. Quite a lot more than just SGN and MNL/CAN. This assumes a similar TPAC bank as NRT arriving early/mid-afternoon. And routing through SFO from the east coast wastes a lot of time, e.g., IAD-NRT-TPE saves 2+hrs of travel time over IAD-SFO-TPE.
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Old May 18, 2019, 10:36 am
  #215  
 
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Originally Posted by east_west
From a quick search, the only international destinations that will work with existing HND routes are PEK, PVG, and GMP. Quite a lot more than just SGN and MNL/CAN. This assumes a similar TPAC bank as NRT arriving early/mid-afternoon. And routing through SFO from the east coast wastes a lot of time, e.g., IAD-NRT-TPE saves 2+hrs of travel time over IAD-SFO-TPE.
True for connecting at HND, but the underlying assumption is that to mitigate the negative, the passenger is intent on flying UA and there are plenty of UA alternatives for IAD/ORD to PEK/PVG/ICN/TPE. Of course there are trade-offs in connecting TYO vs. SFO, whether it's timing and distance, or losing out on lifetime miles, E+, or end up on the 788 torture seat on the NH segment.
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Old May 18, 2019, 11:29 am
  #216  
 
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Originally Posted by moondog
I fail to see how the US DOT could possibly care about whether or not any of the US carriers scale back NRT operations.
DOT aims to maximize public benefit.

if two carriers want to start service from the same airport, but first carrier is adding while second is just replacing NRT service, first carrier should be preferred (but dot will also look at the competitive landscape etc, not a done deal)

DOT didn't make it a requirement to state intentions about scaling back NRT. United and Delta did mention it in their proposals(which makes their arguments stronger to DOT), AA didn't really

Anyways, even if a carrier says they are not scaling back NRT, that is not binding and they can change their mind at any time. It'll just make things more difficult for them on the next DOT (HND) slot arguments (other carriers will rebut and say carrier A cannot be trusted)
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Old May 18, 2019, 1:21 pm
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Originally Posted by paperwastage

Moreover, United is the only carrier that has explained its proposed decision to switch some of its Tokyo flights from Narita to Haneda. As United articulated, the decision is based upon the historic traffic mix for the flight in question.

For example, United determined that flights that historically transport passengers primarily to Tokyo or to points in Japan should switch to Haneda.

Flights that have a disproportionate number of consumers connecting to points beyond Tokyo in the Asia Pacific region should continue to operate to Narita.

United’s proposal has considered the overall consumer need for travel to Tokyo, to points in Japan beyond Tokyo and to other points in the Asia/Pacific region, and it is not clear that any of the other three applicants gave such consideration in developing their future Tokyo plans.
quotes from response document, matching what I said earlier
Re bolded - perhaps numbers are low on a lot of flights because UA eviscerated its NRT-asia service over the past 5-10 years . . .

Originally Posted by mr8
This is great, but I feel like HND needs more Star-Alliance-wide benefits. Currently, you can only use the priority security line if you have status on the airline that is operating the flight. Flying NH metal with UA status will not work and vice versa. Would be really great if they could open a real "Gold Track" line like they have in NRT.
WAs wondering about that - got rejected from that line a couple weeks ago. UA *A gold flying NH. Agree that would be a positive change and seems odd not to have it - NH gives priority boarding to *A gold

Originally Posted by east_west
It is not just BKK that has poor onward connections with the upcoming HND TPAC bank. With a handful of exceptions (GMP, PEK, PVG) east/south-east asia will not be connected without extremely long (8-10hr) or overnight layovers, or a fun bus ride to NRT.
Agree, although it's possible that ANA will change some of those flight times with UA shifting more flights to HND.

Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 18, 2019 at 2:40 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
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Old May 18, 2019, 2:18 pm
  #218  
 
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Originally Posted by EWR764
Tentative awards (received via text) are as follows:

DL: SEA, DTW, ATL, PDX, HNL
AA: DFW, LAX
HA: HNL
UA: EWR, ORD, IAD, LAX

If true, a big, unexpected win for UA, and an equitable distribution, IMO.

Edit to add: https://www.regulations.gov/document...2019-0014-0079
VERY HAPPY that LAX-HND will be a reality ! 👍🍾👏
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Old May 18, 2019, 2:59 pm
  #219  
 
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Originally Posted by usbusinesstraveller


United made very clear and transparent in its application that -

1) EWR, LAX (both granted) and GUM (rejected) would be new services in addition to their NRT services.

2) IAD, ORD (granted) and IAH (rejected) would be transfers away from NRT.

DL may not have been explicit in their application but it was common knowledge that all five that they got would be transfers away from NRT, allowing them to close their NRT station. While no new US-Tokyo service they are upgauging SEA and PDX for a modest capacity increase overall.

AA was the one IMO covertly proposing reduction in service to Tokyo. LAS was a total non starter. And their other proposals (2x DFW and 1x LAX) are the only daily services they’re flying to NRT. UA called them out on this for not saying whether (AA’s word) “additional” meant additional to NRT service or to current LAX and first preference DFW service to HND. Had they got all three and transferred them from NRT, that would have left just their 3x weekly from ORD (cue quiietly close that route and the NRT station).

In short, UA was clearly the most transparent on what would happen re NRT.


This is why UA won those slots at HND!

EWR-HND and LAX-HND are going to see me a lot 😃👌

If I need to do BKK & SGN, I can always do NRT or ICN or TPE, no biggie. I may even fly NH if needed as I will buy a discounted J seat for that trip.
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Old May 18, 2019, 3:07 pm
  #220  
 
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Originally Posted by usbusinesstraveller


United made very clear and transparent in its application that -

1) EWR, LAX (both granted) and GUM (rejected) would be new services in addition to their NRT services.

2) IAD, ORD (granted) and IAH (rejected) would be transfers away from NRT.

DL may not have been explicit in their application but it was common knowledge that all five that they got would be transfers away from NRT, allowing them to close their NRT station. While no new US-Tokyo service they are upgauging SEA and PDX for a modest capacity increase overall.

AA was the one IMO covertly proposing reduction in service to Tokyo. LAS was a total non starter. And their other proposals (2x DFW and 1x LAX) are the only daily services they’re flying to NRT. UA called them out on this for not saying whether (AA’s word) “additional” meant additional to NRT service or to current LAX and first preference DFW service to HND. Had they got all three and transferred them from NRT, that would have left just their 3x weekly from ORD (cue quiietly close that route and the NRT station).

In short, UA was clearly the most transparent on what would happen re NRT.


What will DL do with their NRT->MNL fight? That's just one example of the onward connections that had a smooth operation out of NRT but will now need to be refactored out of HND.

I find this question to be less about Asia to the US, but US to Asia. Those evening flights can get scarse in a hurry.
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Old May 18, 2019, 4:43 pm
  #221  
 
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Originally Posted by katan
What will DL do with their NRT->MNL fight? That's just one example of the onward connections that had a smooth operation out of NRT but will now need to be refactored out of HND.

I find this question to be less about Asia to the US, but US to Asia. Those evening flights can get scarse in a hurry.
DL will likely kill NRT-MNL and NRT-SIN and force connections at ICN through their new JV with KE. DL is going to have to make money in Japan solely from O&D.

Even their odd FUK-HNL route is going to be at risk now that HA has decided to launch flights to Fukuoka.
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Old May 18, 2019, 6:56 pm
  #222  
 
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Originally Posted by sapguy
If I need to do BKK & SGN, I can always do NRT or ICN or TPE, no biggie. I may even fly NH if needed as I will buy a discounted J seat for that trip.
Why do you have to do NRT? There's plenty of HND-BKK flights...
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Old May 18, 2019, 7:03 pm
  #223  
 
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Copied from Post #185 :
There are 5 daily flights HND to BKK, but none of them leave between noon and midnight. The usual UA TPAC bank arrives between 2-4pm.
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Old May 18, 2019, 7:56 pm
  #224  
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
Copied from Post #185 :
There are 5 daily flights HND to BKK, but none of them leave between noon and midnight. The usual UA TPAC bank arrives between 2-4pm.

Well noted.

1. DL doesn't need NRT because it has JV partners at ICN and PVG, both of which have strong coverage in SE Asia.

2. I strongly predict that CZ will launch a lot of direct flights from PKX to SE Asia (slots shouldn't be much of an issue at the outset) coordinated with AA arrivals. Along similar lines, I foresee attempting to use its dormant PEK/PVG frequency on an additional PKX route.

3. Assuming #2 pans out, that sort of leaves UA as the odd man out if they pull out of NRT
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Old May 18, 2019, 8:55 pm
  #225  
 
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Originally Posted by Kmxu
Copied from Post #185 :
There are 5 daily flights HND to BKK, but none of them leave between noon and midnight. The usual UA TPAC bank arrives between 2-4pm.
Ironically, the midnight HND-BKK/SIN departures connected well with United’s SFO-HND when it was a night time arrival with around a 90 minute connection (not so good for the return though). They also work reasonably well with NH’s existing ORD-HND outbound and LAX-HND (both directions). I wonder if NH’s next tranche of HND-US flights will be timed to connect to those late night or early mornings to Sze Asia. Not great for UA benefits but more options.

Originally Posted by moondog
Well noted.
1. DL doesn't need NRT because it has JV partners at ICN and PVG, both of which have strong coverage in SE Asia.
Slight correction there, as DL doesn’t have a JV with MU. The DOT/DOJ doesn’t allow JVs without Open Skies with the airline’s country. DL has a small stake in MU and code shares, but that arrangement was done during the Richard Anderson days when he and KE were barely on speaking terms. Ed Bastian fixed the relationship with KE and hence the DL/KE JV. The MU arrangement helps a lot with China domestic connections, but the pan Asia focus is now with KE.
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