American Airlines announces flights from JFK to Tokyo's Haneda, citing DOT approval

A major U.S. airline is poised to launch a new nonstop route from New York to Tokyo. American Airlines plans to soon fly from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).

The Fort Worth-based carrier revealed the news in an announcement late Friday, saying it won tentative approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to fly the route.

A DOT spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

It’s not yet clear when, exactly, the new flights will begin. American hopes to begin the new route “in the coming months,” it said in a statement, and plans to fly the route daily.

Tokyo, Japan. YU KATO/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES

Haneda slots limited

U.S. airlines can operate a limited number of flights to Haneda, which is governed by use-it-or-lose-it rules flight rules, known as slots. In recent months, carriers have been vying for those Haneda flight rights, petitioning the DOT for the slots. It now appears American has emerged victorious in that effort.

“We are grateful to the DOT and thankful to our partner Japan Airlines for supporting our application. Together, we are well-positioned to offer customers a comprehensive network between two of the most robust economies in the world,” American CEO Robert Isom said in a statement Friday evening.

Expanding Tokyo service

This would not be the first JFK’s first nonstop service to Haneda.

American’s Oneworld Alliance partner Japan Airlines also offers nonstop service between the two airports. In fact, TPG’s Eric Rosen just flew the route in recent days on Japan Airlines’ inaugural JFK-to-Haneda flight with its new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft.

For its part, American already flies to Haneda once daily from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), and twice daily from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

The new route will add 200,000 seats annually between the U.S. and Japan, American said.

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