American tells DOT it will fly to Haneda and Narita if awarded slot

American Airlines is trying to strengthen its case for an additional slot at Tokyo Haneda Airport by telling the US DoT it will operate flights from Dallas/Fort Worth to both Haneda and Tokyo Narita airports. The carrier has been deeply critical of the DOT’s tentative decision to award one of the five daytime Haneda slots to Delta for flights from Minneapolis to the close-in Tokyo airport. Now, American said Delta could drop its Minneapolis–Narita flight if it gets the slot for a Haneda flight. Delta last week said it would draw down some flights at its Narita hub, including routes to New York; Osaka, Japan; and Bangkok. American pointed out that Delta did not include Minneapolis in a list of cities it said it would continue to serve from Narita, inferring that the carrier would reduce Tokyo–Minneapolis service. “Delta’s announcement confirms what American and other carriers argued throughout this proceeding—that Delta will withdraw Minneapolis–Narita service upon inaugurating Minneapolis–Haneda service,” American said in a DOT filing. “Should the [DOT] award Haneda service to Dallas/Fort Worth instead, however, American will continue to serve Narita alongside service to Haneda.”<br/>