BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

2010 U.S.-Haneda Combination Services 

Allocation Proceeding 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0018 

MOTION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

FOR A 30 DAY STARTUP EXTENSION

Communications with respect to this document should be addressed to: 

 

Glen Hauenstein 

Executive Vice President – Network Planning 

 & Revenue Management 

Robert J. Cortelyou 

Senior Vice President – Network Planning 

Andreas Renner 

Director – International Network Planning 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1030 Delta Boulevard 

Atlanta, Georgia 30320 

Andrea Fischer Newman 

Senior Vice President – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director – Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

Jeff Morgan 

Regional Director – Government Affairs 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

1212 New York Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20005 

(202) 842-4184 

sascha.vanderbellen@delta.com

September 7, 2010 
 

BEFORE THE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Application of 

 DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

 

2010 U.S.-Haneda Combination Services 

Allocation Proceeding 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

) 

Docket DOT-OST-2010-0018 

MOTION OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC.

FOR A 30 DAY STARTUP EXTENSION

Delta is very pleased to have been selected to provide service on the Detroit-Haneda 

and Los Angeles-Haneda routes, and looks forward to bringing those important new service 

benefits to its customers once the U.S.-Japan open skies agreement is in effect. By this 

Motion, Delta seeks a limited 30 day extension of the startup condition of Order 2010-7-2 in 

order to allow Delta to more efficiently plan and implement these new services. 

In its Final Order, the Department recognized that unique factors associated with the 

re-opening of Haneda to international service and the effectiveness of open skies could 

impact carriers’ ability to introduce new service, and in light of these considerations the 

Department would be sympathetic to requests for modified start-up dates. Order 2010-7-2 

at n.27. The modest 30 day extension requested by Delta will have no impact on the longterm benefits of its services -- but will greatly assist Delta’s ability to effectively market and 

successfully introduce its new Haneda service once open skies is in effect.1

 

1 Delta appreciates that the Department is working as quickly as possible to complete its 

review of the antitrust immunity applications which are necessary for U.S.-Japan open skies 

to come into effect. However, the Department has been clear that it will not prejudge the 

outcome of these cases, which casts a cloud on the risks and commitments carriers can 

reasonably take in marketing new Haneda services. This is particularly true in the case of 

Japan, where large blocks of seats are sold though agency contracts, and Delta cannot be 

sure of its ability to carry through on commitments for Haneda seats until open skies is in 

effect.
Motion of Delta 

Page 2 

As required by Order 2010-7-2, Delta is planning to commence Haneda service in 

late January, so as to maximize advance sales and marketing opportunities after open skies 

is expected to enter into effect.2

 However, this places the planned startup date in the lowest 

demand period of the year, where it is certain to incur substantial and otherwise avoidable 

startup losses. February is one of the lowest demand months for mainland U.S.-Tokyo 

passengers with just 158,612 bookings, whereas demand in March is more than 30 percent 

greater with 208,387 bookings.3

 While February is a short month, on an adjusted basis, 

February generates 2,832 passenger per day each way and March generates 3,361 

passengers per day each way. Id. 

With two new B-747-400 services, Delta will be introducing substantial new capacity 

with more than 800 new daily nonstop seats per day each way to the U.S.-Tokyo market. 

By starting service just 30 days later, Delta’s new service will benefit from this important 

seasonal upswing in Tokyo traffic. Delta believes it makes good public interest sense to 

introduce new service and capacity when there is public demand to support the flights. 

However, Delta reiterates that it will meet any startup condition required by the Department. 

The Department has previously granted similar short term start-up extensions to 

Delta and other carriers. For the reasons explained above, Delta believes that it is 

appropriate and consistent with the public interest to do so here. 

 

 

2 Delta notes that American is also planning to begin its JFK-Haneda service in late January. 3 MIDT Data, February, March 2010.
Motion of Delta 

Page 3 

Respectfully submitted,

_________________________________ 

Alexander Van der Bellen 

Managing Director, Government Affairs 

 & Associate General Counsel 

DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 

A copy of the foregoing document has been served this 7th day of September, 2010, 

upon the following persons via email: 

carl.nelson@aa.com 

dan.weiss@coair.com 

hershel.kamen@coair.com 

jeffrey.manley@united.com 

howard.kass@usairways.com 

benjamin.slocum@usairways.com 

jhill@dowlohnes.com 

paul.gretch@dot.gov 

keith.glatz@dot.gov 

esta.rosenberg@dot.gov 

byerlyjr@state.gov 

eugene_alford@ita.doc.gov 

info@airlineinfo.com