Delta Air Lines wins preliminary regulatory nod for Seattle-to-Tokyo-Haneda service
Nov 16, 2012 (Menafn - AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION via COMTEX) --Atlanta, USA-based carrier Delta Air Lines DAL said that the U.S. Department of Transportation has given preliminary approval for the airline's new service between Seattle and Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Delta said that Seattle is the largest West Coast city without nonstop service to Haneda, which is the preferred Tokyo airport for many business travelers due to its proximity to the city's central business district.
The flight would complement Delta's nonstop flight between Seattle and Tokyo-Narita, which will be expanded and upgraded next year to Boeing 747-400 service.
Delta said that the Haneda flight adds to Delta's growing Asian gateway in Seattle. In addition to Tokyo, Delta recently announced new service to Shanghai, and also operates flights toBeijing and Osaka, Japan.
The Haneda flight, which is scheduled to begin in March 2013, will operate using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, Delta's popular Economy Comfort seating and in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft.
In addition to its Asian gateway, Delta operates nonstop service to Paris and Amsterdam from Seattle. By next summer the airline said it will operate more than 40 daily flights to 15 destinations worldwide from Seattle.
Delta said its international growth in Seattle is possible because of its partnership with Alaska Airlines, which operates a domestic hub at Settle-Tacoma International Airport. Customers of both carriers enjoy access to an expanded network under a major codesharing agreement, as well as reciprocal frequent flier benefits and airport lounge access.
The new Tokyo-Haneda flight will benefit from easy connections to 55 U.S. cities on Delta and Alaska's domestic networks.
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