1

Detroit-Tokyo Haneda

OST-2010-0018

March 1, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Reply of Lester W. Robinson, CEO, Wayne 

County Airport Authority in support of Delta 

Air Lines, Inc.

II. Letters of Support

III. Exhibit DTW-A

IV. Exhibit DTW-B

V. Exhibit DTW-C
Docket OST-2010-0018 

REPLY OF LESTER W. ROBINSON, CEO, WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY 

IN SUPPORT OF DELTA AIR LINES, INC. 

Detroit has become Delta's primary Eastern U.S. gateway for service to Asia. Detroit's extensive 

catchment area combined with its modern, state-of-the-art McNamara Terminal, provides quick and 

convenient connections to Asia for more cities in the eastern half of the United States than any other airline 

hub. Additionally, Detroit's role at the center of the global auto industry has created extensive traffic flows 

to other auto production and design centers around the globe--particularly in the Tokyo, Japan region. 

Those ties include offices for General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler in Tokyo as well as 

Toyota's North American Technical Center & Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc. in nearby Ann Arbor, 

Michigan. Ann Arbor is also home to the University of Michigan. More than 2,000 foreign students attend 

U of M from Japan, China, and Korea.1

 At first glance, Detroit's Upper-Midwestern location may seem 

counterintuitive for hosting Delta's leading U.S. gateway to Asia, but the development of the Polar Route to 

Asia (utilizing advancements in aviation technology and newly-unrestricted airspace over the Arctic, Exhibit 

DTW-A) has allowed Detroit to become the most convenient U.S. gateway hub to Asia from most of 

America's largest population centers. Flying to/from the Northeast USA to Tokyo via Detroit is more than 

2,000 miles shorter roundtrip than connecting through a more traditional, West Coast Asian gateway such 

as Los Angeles. Similarly, Detroit lies on the shortest route between the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast USA 

to Asia. 

Maintaining Detroit's position as a leading U.S. gateway to Asia is among the Wayne County Airport 

Authority's (WCAA) top priorities--especially given how vital such air service is to the primary industry 

fueling Michigan's economy. Obtaining access to the most convenient airport in Tokyo--one of the world's 

auto capitals--is critical to ensuring the stability of Metro Detroit's economic future. With Detroit's economy 

finally showing signs of improvement after a deep and painful correction, it is a top priority for the people of 

Michigan to maintain a favorable atmosphere for growth. The global connections offered to/from Delta's 

Detroit hub makes Detroit Metro Airport one of Southeast Michigan's key competitive assets. Adding 

access to Tokyo's Haneda Airport will greatly help reignite economic development in our region by 

strengthening that asset and further incentivizing companies to maintain and grow their Detroit presence. 

 

1

 University of Michigan enrollment data 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

Detroit is the Most Efficient and Customer Friendly Gateway to Asia 

Delta's Asian gateway at Detroit both saves customers time and provides customers with an unparalleled 

airport experience. On February 21st, 2010, Detroit Metro Airport was recognized as the #1 large airport in 

the USA for overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power & Associates. Some other airports seeking nonstop service to Haneda didn't fare as well; New York's JFK airport finished in the bottom quarter of the 

ratings, while Newark Liberty International Airport finished last. 

"If you are flying from Newark and you're frustrated for some reason or another, and you land in 

Detroit, you say, 'Wow,' and scratch your head and ask 'Why can't Newark be like this?'" 

-Stuart Greif 

VP and general manager of the Global Travel and Hospitality Practice at J.D. Power 

The Polar Route doesn't just save customers time from the East Coast. Even from cities hundreds of miles 

West of Detroit, it's shorter to fly eastward to connect via Detroit on to Tokyo than a westward routing via 

Los Angeles or San Francisco. Essentially, every city east of the Mississippi River has a shorter trip to 

Tokyo via Detroit than a California gateway. Detroit also offers a shorter trip to Tokyo from the Northeast 

than any other Midwest hub. 

Delta's Detroit Application is Superior to Other Proposals 

New Haneda service from Detroit will maximize service and competition for Haneda passengers, 

particularly for travelers in the eastern half of the United States. The other proposals for eastern U.S.-

Haneda service are New York gateway proposals by carriers that already have the ability to serve Haneda 

in concert with their Japanese alliance partners. Only Delta's Detroit proposal creates a third competitive 

option for eastern U.S. passengers. 

American Airlines proposes access to Haneda from New York's JFK Airport and from Los Angeles. In both 

cases, American's ability to offer connecting services beyond these "hubs" pales beside Detroit's modern 

and extensive connecting complex. Delta's massive DTW hub offers non-stop service to 147 destinations, 

whereas American's JFK "hub" offers flights to only 50 destinations. American's Los Angeles "hub" only 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

 

offers flights to 32 destinations. In both cases, American's applications fall severely short in the key 

category of providing convenient access to as much of America as possible. Overall, the primary benefit of 

Haneda access is convenience. To sacrifice that convenience by forcing customers from the interior of the 

United States to travel via interline services or even overnight in a hotel at the connect point defeats the 

purpose of this route award process. Additionally, given American's position in Oneworld and the extremely 

high likelihood that JAL will seek Haneda service to Los Angeles, award of Haneda authority to American 

for Los Angeles service would inevitably result in a single Anti-Trust Immunity (ATI)/Joint Venture (JV) 

possessing two Haneda-Los Angeles operations. 

Continental Airlines proposes services from Guam and New York. It would seem logical that, given the 

extremely limited availability of slots for Haneda Airport, the priority should be serving key U.S. business 

markets that could benefit from convenient access to an airport that can more effectively serve the needs 

of time-sensitive customers. The Tokyo-Guam market is overwhelmingly comprised of Japan-originating 

leisure passengers. Thus, it is our strongly held opinion that the two top priorities for the route award 

process should be serving routes that increase convenience to the maximum number of U.S. origin 

passengers, while focusing on routes that will create competitive choice for business travelers that most 

desire to take advantage of that convenience. Accordingly, it would seem that Continental's Guam 

application should be quickly dismissed, since over 90% of the passengers flown between Tokyo and 

Guam are passengers originating their trip in Japan.2

 Additionally, the vast majority of those passengers 

are Japanese vacationers, rather than business travelers. In fact, approximately 80% of the island's 

tourists are Japanese. While tourism is important, it would seem a questionable and incompatible use of 

such limited slots since these tourists could continue to be accommodated most effectively by flying from 

Narita Airport. Additionally, since supply of slots at Haneda for services to America will be so limited, that 

would also seem to translate into higher fares--simply as a result of the basics of supply and demand. This 

creates a further incompatibility with a leisure market where low fares are the primary motivator. 

Continental's arguments for Newark authority are much more compatible with the needs of business 

travelers. Unfortunately, given Continental's position in the Star Alliance and given that it is highly likely 

that ANA will seek and be awarded authority to serve a primary market such as New York from Japan, the 

award of a Newark route to Continental will most likely result in a single ATI/JV group operating more than 

one daily flight from Haneda to New York City. In our opinion, this type of outcome should be studiously 

avoided in the interest of maximizing competition. 

2

 Sabre MIDT data 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

 

Similar to Guam, Hawaiian Airlines' proposed service between Haneda and Honolulu would also serve a 

leisure market serving almost exclusively Japanese vacationers. The point-of-sale in the market is once 

again over 90% originating in Japan.3

 Awarding authority for scarce Haneda slots to service priceconscious Japanese vacationers from the downtown business airport in Tokyo would seem fundamentally 

incompatible with the basic value of Haneda access. These scarce slots should be used to benefit 

American travelers in at least some way. Award of authority for Tokyo-Honolulu service would do very little 

to benefit American travelers and would be tantamount to gifting back Haneda slots to the Japanese 

government for the nearly exclusive use of Japanese customers. 

United Airlines has requested authority for San Francisco-Haneda service. It is extremely likely that under 

the Star ATI with United, ANA will offer flights to San Francisco which negates United's argument for a 

route allocation in this case. 

Economic Ties between Japan and Metro Detroit 

In addition to Toyota's Technical Center and the Mitsubishi Motors R&D of America, Inc. head office in Ann 

Arbor, many other businesses in the DTW catchment area upon efficient ties between Detroit and Japan. 

Just 150 miles south of Detroit is Honda's North American R&D facility as well as their Transportation 

Research Center and associated product facilities. In total there are 491 Japanese owned facilities in 

Michigan employing 36,948 people. Combined with bordering Ohio, much of which uses Detroit Metro 

Airport as its primary air transport facility, the total number of Americans employed by Japanese companies 

balloons to 101,000 jobs at 886 facilities (Exhibit DTW-B). More than half these jobs are high-paying 

manufacturing jobs. In 2008, Michigan exported almost one and a half billion dollars worth of products to 

Japan.4

 The largest contributors to that export total were chemicals, automobiles, and industrial 

machinery. Neighboring Ohio also exported about one and a half billion dollars worth of goods. Not 

surprisingly, the ties between Detroit and Japan are so numerous that Detroit is home to one of a handful 

of Japanese consulates in the USA. 

A total of 10,300 Japanese nationals reside within Michigan. Over 8,500 live in Metro Detroit and their 

3

 Sabre MIDT data 

4

 Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

 

numbers have increased by 34% over the last ten years.5

Detroit to Haneda Service is Needed to Balance Out Inequities in the new U.S.-Japan Bilateral 

The proposed U.S.-Japan agreement would allow for anti-trust immunity and joint ventures between U.S. 

and Japanese carriers, which would in turn allow for the sharing of costs and revenue among U.S. and 

Japanese carriers across the Pacific. Thus, the Star and Oneworld hubs at issue in this proceeding are 

well positioned to share in the benefits of the new agreement. Detroit, on the other hand is a SkyTeam 

alliance hub, which is the only large alliance without a Japanese airline partner. U.S. Star Alliance and 

Oneworld hub cities are also more likely to receive non-stop Haneda service by a Japanese carrier under 

the proposed bilateral agreement than would a SkyTeam hub, as the latter would not provide either leading 

Japanese carrier with U.S. connectivity through its established alliance partners. Without the ability for 

Delta to even apply for a joint venture relationship to/from Japan, it becomes even more imperative for 

Detroit, that Delta--our hub carrier--, be afforded the opportunity to at least partially offset this disadvantage 

by offering non-stop service from Detroit to Tokyo's Haneda Airport. To allow those carriers already set to 

benefit from ATI and JV advantages to also dominate at Haneda by being awarded the limited authorities 

available would defeat the very goal that the U.S. and Japan set-out to achieve in liberalizing the bilateral 

agreement--increasing access and furthering competition. It is our view that Star and Oneworld carriers 

should not be awarded any additional Haneda slots because their current alliance partners, and future ATI 

partners, already have access to 84% of total Haneda slots. 

The Economic Benefit to Detroit 

Throughout Southeast Michigan's economic ups-and-downs, DTW has remained an economic anchor that 

has helped stem the negative effects of problems in Detroit's other core industries. DTW reported a five 

percent increase in year-over-year originating traffic in November 20096

 (Exhibit DTW-C). By comparison, 

the rest of the country on average saw a 1% reduction during the same period. Only three, large U.S. 

airports saw increases in originating revenue in November 2009 compared to the prior year. Furthermore, 

Detroit was the only airport with positive results among the applicants' proposed gateway cities for new 

Haneda service. Both New York-JFK and Newark, for example, saw originating revenue fall more than 

12% in November. 

5

 Ibid.

6

 Sabre MIDT data 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

 

The key issue for Detroit relates to economic impact and its effect on jobs. DTW believes that this new 

flight will produce 300 direct jobs, 125 of which would be employed in the state of Michigan. Additionally, 

those new jobs would see high average pay typical of airline jobs. Indirectly, 250 new Michigan jobs would 

be fostered by tourism generated by the flight. The total of 375 new jobs for Michigan do not include the 

business attraction benefits of gaining very limited access to Tokyo's preferred business airport. If a single 

large employer decided to locate in Detroit because of newly found convenient access from Tokyo, the 

benefit in terms of jobs could multiply exponentially. 

The economic impact of the Michigan jobs exceeds $108 million annually with $59 million in direct impact 

and $49 million in induced expenditure. $22 million of the impact would result from tourism across the 

state of Michigan, but the greater benefit relates to the indirect value of gaining access to a scarce 

resource at Haneda that will surely result in business attraction both for Michigan and for Japan. 

Delta's Detroit Hub Provides More Reliable Service to Passengers than Congested Hubs in New 

York, Chicago and Los Angeles 

In addition to providing an award-winning terminal facility at Detroit Metro Airport that enables customers to 

seamlessly connect between domestic and international flights all within one building, DTW has one of the 

nation's most powerful airfields--resulting in greater throughput performance than any other proposed 

mainland gateway city.7

 Throughout 2009, Detroit Metro Airport ranked fifth in on-time performance of any 

U.S. airport. By comparison, Los Angeles (LAX), the next proposed mainland U.S.-Haneda gateway to 

appear, ranked 18th, San Francisco-SFO (27th), New York-JFK (28th), and Newark-EWR (31st). Such ontime performance amounts to more than just bragging rights--at any major hub where connections abound, 

delayed flights quickly translate into missed connections and inconvenienced passengers. The business 

travel market that most demands the time-saving convenience presented by direct access to Tokyo's closein Haneda airport is the same time-sensitive travel market for whom delays on the U.S. domestic end of 

their journey are least tolerable. The opportunity to eliminate the commute between Narita Airport and 

Central Tokyo provided by new Haneda service is rendered irrelevant if travelers must spend that time 

waiting on the domestic end of their journey caused by delays at other, more congested hubs. 

7

 Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Airline On-Time Data, Ranking of Major Airport On-Time Arrival Performance Year-todate through December 2009 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

Delta Service from Detroit is Not Duplicative and Is a New Service Benefit 

Haneda Airport is highly convenient to downtown Tokyo and represents a distinct and separate relevant 

market from Narita. Delta's proposed Detroit-Haneda service is not duplicative of its existing Detroit-Narita 

service. Delta's extensive Narita hub provides Detroit passengers and those connecting from points in the 

Eastern US via Detroit with connection opportunities to 13 major Asian markets (including ten not also 

served non-stop from Detroit). Accordingly, as Delta clearly indicates in its application, the demand for 

existing service between Detroit and Tokyo-Narita would remain strong and Delta will have no incentive to 

discontinue such service. Meanwhile, new flights to Tokyo-Haneda would serve the strong U.S.-Tokyo 

origin and destination (O&D) market. 

Likewise, for that very reason, the arguments made by other applicants urging the Department's 

consideration of connection opportunities at Haneda to points beyond Tokyo are without merit in this 

decision. Since 1978, Tokyo's Narita Airport has served as the idea transfer point for passengers merely 

wishing to connect in Tokyo to points onward and is uniquely positioned to handle such connecting traffic in 

the future. While WCAA respects the Department's usual consideration of connection opportunities when 

awarding route authorities, in this case it would be irresponsible to award precious, limited access to 

Tokyo's close-in Haneda airport for passenger traffic not primarily originating in or bound for Greater Tokyo. 

Moreover, given Narita's role as Japan's primary international airport, flight connections are more aptly 

timed to connect with U.S. bound transpacific flights than would be the case at Haneda--especially given 

the scope of operating hours available at Haneda to applicants in this decision. In this case, consideration 

of connecting opportunities at Haneda would contradict the very purpose for increasing access to Haneda. 

While the Department has considered connection opportunities beyond foreign ends of such routes in the 

past, the Haneda case is unique in that the airport serves almost exclusively intra-Japan markets, the 

largest and majority of which are also served from Narita. 

Detroit Metropolitan Airport 

Detroit Metro Airport served over 31 million passengers in the year ending April 2009, and of the 

passengers using DTW, on average half are origination and destination (O&D) and half are connecting. 

Detroit Metro Airport has six runways and two award-winning terminal buildings--each opened within the 

last decade. Sixteen passenger airlines provide scheduled commercial passenger service at Detroit Metro 

Airport; Delta and its SkyTeamTM partners account for 81% of total seat departures. Situated in heavily 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

 

populated southeast Michigan, Detroit Metro Airport also serves as the primary air transportation hub for 

most of Michigan, Northwest Ohio, Northeast Indiana and Southwestern Ontario, Canada. More than 12.5 

million people live within 120 miles of Detroit Metro Airport. 

Delta’s Detroit WorldGatewayTM 

Detroit Metropolitan Airport is the second-largest hub and primary U.S. transpacific gateway for Delta Air 

Lines. The carrier operates 496 daily flight departures to 147 nonstop destinations, including 127 domestic 

destinations and 20 international destinations in seven countries. Of Delta’s destinations served nonstop 

from Detroit as of Summer 2010, five are in Asia: Tokyo/Narita (NRT) with a daily flight using a 403-seat 

Boeing 747-400 aircraft; Nagoya (NGO) with five weekly flights using a 403-seat Boeing 747-400 aircraft; 

Shanghai (PVG) with one daily flight using a 278-seat Boeing 777-200ER/LR aircraft; Hong Kong (HKG) 

with five weekly flights using a 278-seat Boeing 777-200LR aircraft; and Seoul (ICN) with five weekly flights 

using 278-seat Boeing 777-200ER/LR aircraft. 8

 Delta's Detroit – Japan nonstop services have historically 

operated with very high load factors, a strong indication that new nonstop service to Tokyo Haneda would 

be successful. 

Delta operates from the McNamara Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. As one of the highest-rated 

hub terminal facilities in the U.S., Detroit’s McNamara Terminal was purposefully designed to 

accommodate both origination and destination passengers and connections. The planning and construction 

of this world-class facility was jointly managed by the airport and then-hub carrier and primary tenant Delta 

Airlines. The final phase of the 120-gate facility was opened to the public in July 2006, and today Delta and 

its SkyTeam partners operate at the McNamara Terminal where they provide seamless connections to tens 

of thousands of passengers each and every day. Concourse A of the McNamara Terminal is the world's 

second-longest airport terminal at one mile, but features an ExpressTram that takes passengers from end 

to end in under 3.5 minutes. Concourses B and C are reached through a unique tunnel with moving 

walkways throughout, featuring a magnificent light and music show. The terminal's dedicated Federal 

Inspection Services (FIS) area can process up to 3,200 passengers per hour, allowing multiple 

international arrivals by large aircraft at any one time with minimal delays. Furthermore, with the completion 

of the second phase of construction in 2006, the number of international gates at the McNamara Terminal 

was been increased to 12. 

8

 OAG Schedule data 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

Passengers have recognized the superior terminal facilities at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, resulting in 

several prestigious awards. 

J.D. Power & Associates 

- On February 21st, 2010, Detroit Metro Airport was recognized as the #1 large airport in the USA for 

overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power. 

In addition to its unparalleled efficiency in terms of both moving passengers and aircraft, DTW is 

recognized worldwide for its superior concessions program and innovative architectural design. The 

concessions program at the McNamara Terminal has received numerous accolades. Ninety-eight percent 

of the concessions at the McNamara Terminal are located behind security, and travelers are able to enjoy 

approximately 90 shops and restaurants located there. The offerings include a variety of international 

cuisine as well as unique services such as spa and oxygen treatments. Concessions are of special 

importance in this case because international passengers have more dwell time than domestic passengers 

and will greatly benefit from the variety and convenience of the concessions offered at the McNamara 

Terminal. 

Following are awards garnered in 2009 from that demonstrate the high quality of the offerings at Detroit’s 

McNamara Terminal: 

Zagat Airline Survey 

 3rd Best U.S. Airport in Overall Quality 

Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine 

 1st Place (and first perfect score ever) for availability of healthy menu items at airport restaurants 

Airport Revenue News

Best Concession Awards 

- Large Retailer with Highest Regard for Customer Service (Paradies) 

- Best Large Specialty Brand (Brooks Brothers) 

- Best Overall Food and Beverage Operator (HMS Host) 

- Best Overall Small Retailer (Vino Volo) 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

- Best Small Specialty Retail Brand Operator (ZoomSystems) 

The Westin Hotel Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a member of the Starwood Group, is connected to the 

McNamara Terminal and is yet another amenity that is of tremendous benefit to travelers at Detroit Metro 

Airport. In December 2002, this 404-room facility became the first luxury class four-star hotel to open in 

metro Detroit area in 15 years. It features more than 25,000 square feet of meeting room space, a 7,600-

square-foot ballroom and a fine-dining restaurant. Meetings can be held onsite if travelers need to conduct 

business with local companies while connecting through Detroit. The hotel features its own Transportation 

Security Administration (TSA) passenger screening checkpoint allowing hotel guests and other visitors the 

ability to pass directly between the hotel lobby and Concourse A. 

Metro Detroit’s Economy & Workforce 

With an annual gross metropolitan product of nearly $240 billion, the Detroit region is one of the most 

important business centers in the U.S. The economy of the region is truly unique, and Detroit is known 

worldwide as the “Motor City” because the area is home to the largest automotive manufacturers in the 

world – Chrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors – and their suppliers. The state of Michigan 

accounts for 21 percent of all automobiles manufactured in the U.S. – more than any other state. Twentyone Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Michigan, 15 of which are located in metropolitan 

Detroit, and three more Fortune 500 companies are located in northern Ohio less than a 60-minute drive 

from the Detroit Metro Airport. An additional 13 Fortune 1,000 companies, representing a variety of 

industries, are headquartered in Michigan. 

Michigan is the top state in the country for automotive and industrial process research and development 

(R&D). This sector includes over 200 companies, $10.3 billion in annual spending and the employment of 

over 60,000 engineers. Michigan ranks second in the United States in all research and development 

activities.9 Furthermore, Michigan ranks seventh in terms of U.S. states that are home to doctoral 

engineers. 

Detroit is a truly global city, and Michigan is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the country. Over 

75 ethnic groups from 150 countries are represented in the population. This is reflected in the number of 

full Consulates General and honorary consulates in the metropolitan area. 
Docket OST-2010-0018 

Closing 

In summary, Detroit is the best and most effective gateway for Eastern U.S. passengers. Only the 

selection of Delta for Detroit service will ensure effective Haneda competition against the Star and 

Oneworld alliances, which have access through the Japanese incumbent carriers operating at Haneda. 

The lack of a Japanese carrier in the SkyTeam alliance strongly favors an award to Delta in this proceeding 

to secure competitive access to Tokyo's Haneda airport. The likely existence of two immunized alliances 

across the Pacific, both of which enjoy built-in Haneda service advantages, makes it essential to provide 

Delta with enough Haneda access to balance the effects of the multiple "bites at the apple" afforded its 

alliance competitors. Haneda access will enhance the competitiveness of the Detroit hub, and benefit 

Detroit itself which is a center for trade, research, and manufacturing for North America with a business 

community anchored by companies with extensive ties to both countries. In order to sustain needed 

growth in our economy over the next decade, Detroit needs to be able to serve this prime market with nonstop service to the most convenient airport to Central Tokyo. 
1

Detroit Metro Airport, Letters of Support

OST-2010-0018





2009 Corporate Sponsors 

• DTE Energy 

• Nippon Oil 

• Toyota Motor Engineering & 

Manufacturing NA, Inc. 

• Comerica Bank 

• Ford Motor Company 

• General Motors Company 

• Saturn Electronics & 

 Engineering, Inc. 

• Darden Restaurants 

• Delphi Corporation 

• Delta Air Lines 

• Dow Automotive Systems 

• Visteon Corporation 

Peter Wong 

Chairman 

Ron Shahani 

Vice Chairman 

Suk-Kyu Koh 

President 

Grace Lee 

Vice President/Treasurer 

Peter Schreck 

Secretary 

Wallace K. Tsuha, Jr. 

Chairman Emeritus 

Directors: 

B.N. Bahadur 

Stephanie Beau 

Amal Berry-Brown 

Bing Goei 

Jimmy Hsiao 

Jamie Hsu, Ph.D. 

R.J. King 

Peng-Li Liu 

Janny Lu 

Ernestina Mac, M.D. 

Victor Naidu 

Dominic Pangborn 

Brenda Schneider 

Shigeki Terashi 

Executive Director 

Denise Yee Grim

Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce 

2120 Austin Avenue, Rochester Hills, MI 48326 Phone (248) 844-4100 Fax (248) 844-4280 www.apacc.net 

February 26, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

On behalf of APACC - Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, I 

am writing to express our strong support for the application of Delta Air 

Lines for new nonstop service between Detroit and Haneda. 

Approval of Delta’s new service would be a major benefit for our region, 

where many corporations have strong trade and market presence with 

Japan. There are over 500 Japanese companies located in Michigan and 

hundreds more whose business models rely on access to Japan and it’s 

market. The growth of our business ties with Japan has created demand for 

increased capacity to Tokyo. Our business travelers look to the 

convenience of flying into Tokyo’s downtown Haneda airport. 

Detroit is a proven and successful gateway to Asia, and as an airport that 

can support trans-pacific routes. This summer Delta is adding new service 

to Seoul and Hong Kong, fulfilling the commitment Delta made to Detroit 

Metro Airport to make it the airlines gateway to Asia. The addition of 

Haneda as a destination is a natural fit that would clearly benefit our 

business travelers. 

APACC’s mission is to facilitate business relationships among Asian and 

U.S. companies and to promote entrepreneurship for the advancement of 

Asian Pacific Americans. APACC is committed to serve as a catalyst for 

expanding business opportunities for companies that desire to connect 

with Asian Pacific American businesses and the global Asian consumer 

markets. 

Thank you for consideration of this request. 

Sincerely, 

Peter Wong, CPA 

APACC Chairman of the Board 

Cc: Susy Heintz Avery, Wayne County Airport Authority 
6 0 0 R e n a i s s a n c e C e n t e r , S u i t e 1 7 6 0 , D e t r o i t , M I 4 8 2 4 3 3 1 3 . 2 5 9 . 5 4 0 0

February 23, 2010

The Honorable Ray LaHood

United States Department of Transportation

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Dear Secretary LaHood:

On behalf of Business Leaders for Michigan, a nonprofit, leadership organization 

comprised exclusively of the chairpersons, chief executive officers, or most senior 

executives of Michigan's largest companies and universities, I am writing to express our 

strong support for the application of Delta Air Lines for new nonstop service between 

Detroit, Michigan and Haneda, Japan.

Approval of Delta’s new service would be a major benefit for our region, where 

many corporations have strong trade and market presence with Japan. There are over 

500 Japanese companies located in Michigan and hundreds more whose business 

models rely on access to Japan and its market. The growth of our business ties with 

Japan has created demand for increased capacity to Tokyo. Our business travelers look 

to the convenience of flying into Tokyo’s downtown Haneda airport. 

Detroit is a proven and successful gateway to Asia, and is an airport that can 

support trans-pacific routes. The addition of Haneda as a destination would benefit our 

business travelers as well as our region’s economy. 

Thank you for consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Doug Rothwell

President & CEO
STATE OF MICHIGAN

JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM 

GOVERNOR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, LABOR & ECONOMIC GROWTH 

LANSING

STANLEY “SKIP” PRUSS

DIRECTOR 

DELEG is an equal opportunity employer/program. 

Auxiliary aids, services and other reasonable accommodations are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. 

Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission

611 West Ottawa Street, 4th Floor 

Lansing, MI 48933 

MICHIGAN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN AFFAIRS COMISSION 

February 25, 2010 

The Honorable Ray LaHood 

United States Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Secretary LaHood: 

On behalf of Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, I am writing 

to express our strong support for the application of Delta Air Lines for new 

nonstop service between Detroit and Haneda, Japan. 

Approval of Delta’s new service would be a major benefit for our state and 

region, where many corporations have strong trade and market presence with 

Japan. There are over 500 Japanese companies located in Michigan and 

hundreds more whose business models rely on access to Japan and it’s 

market. The growth of our business ties with Japan has created demand for 

increased capacity to Tokyo. Our business travelers look to the convenience of 

flying into Tokyo’s downtown Haneda airport. 

Detroit is a proven and successful gateway to Asia, and as an airport that can 

support trans-pacific routes. This summer Delta is adding new service to Seoul 

and Hong Kong, fulfilling the commitment Delta made to DTW to make it the 

airlines gateway to Asia. The addition of Haneda as a destination is a natural fit 

that would clearly benefit our business travelers. 

Thank you for consideration of this request. 

Sincerely yours, 

H. Sook Wilkinson, Ph.D. 

Chairperson, miapacommission@gmail.com 
1

Detroit Metro Airport, Exhibit DTW-A

OST-2010-0018
2

Columbus, Ohio to Tokyo

via DTW: 6,410+310 = 6,720 miles

via West Coast: 5,470+1,990 = 7,460 miles
1

Detroit Metro Airport, Exhibit DTW-B

OST-2010-0018
2

491 Japanese Facilities Employing 

37,000 are in Michigan

Employment Tops 101,000 

including Ohio

Source: Consulate General of Japan in Detroit
1

Detroit Metro Airport, Exhibit DTW-C

OST-2010-0018
2

General Information:

The Motor City
3

Detroit Is the 8th Largest 

Metro Area in the USA

Detroit Landmarks

THE FOX THEATRE

Built in 1928 and restored in 1988, the 5,000 seat 

theater is second only to New York’s Radio City 

Music Hall in size. The Fox was the first movie 

theater in the world to be constructed with built-in 

equipment for sound films. The theater sits 

across the street from Comerica Park.
4

• The circles show 

the heaviest 

population density

• DTW lies on I-94 

between Ann Arbor 

and downtown 

Detroit

• DTW provides 97% 

of the region’s air 

service, with the 

remainder at FNT

DTW

FNT

#28

#38

#52

#93 #68

• Detroit scored well in the August 2009 

“CNNMoney.com 100 Best Places To Live”

– #28 Plymouth Township

– #38 Grosse Ile

– #52 Rochester

– #68 Saline

– #93 Tecumseh

The Lay of the Land
9

Detroit’s Core Economy 

Is Quickly Turning Around
11

Detroit Metro Airport

Efficient, Modern, Successful
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J.D. Power: “THE #1 Large Airport”

Detroit: Gateway to Michigan Wonders

TAHQUAMENON FALLS

Only second in size to Niagara Falls in the Eastern 

U.S., Tahquamenon Falls sits on the Northeastern 

corner of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. One half 

million visitors per year visit the Tahquamenon Falls 

State Park to see the their unusual copper-colored 

water, caused by natural tannins from cedar swamps. 

• On February 21st, 2010, DTW was ranked #1 

among the 20 largest airports in the USA for 

overall customer satisfaction by J.D. Power

• "If you are flying from Newark and you're frustrated 

for some reason or another, and you land in Detroit, 

you say, 'Wow,' and scratch your head and ask 'Why 

can't Newark be like this?'“

Stuart Greif

VP and General Manager 

Global Travel Practice at J.D. Power
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• Despite a hard Winter, Detroit’s modern 

airfield translates into fewer cancellations

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

DTW MDW MKE JFK CLE ORD CVG

Flight Cancellation Rate

Jan 2009, DOT

DTW Leads Area Hubs 

in Winter Reliability

Detroit: Gateway to Michigan Wonders

THE BRIDGE TO EVERYWHERE

Just as the Mackinac Bridge links Michigan with its 

quiet and beautiful Upper Peninsula, Metro Airport 

links Michigan with the rest of the world. Over 85% of 

air visitors to Michigan pass through Detroit Metro 

Airport making DTW the primary link to all of 

Michigan’s Wonders. 
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Detroit’s Modern Airfield 

Features Six Runways

ft m

4R/22L 12,003 3,659

4L/22R 10,000 3,048

3R/21L 10,001 3,048

3L/21R 8,501 2,591

9L/27R 8,708 2,654

9R/27L 8,500 2,591

Runways

Length

Detroit Landmarks

MICHIGAN SPEEDWAY

The Motor City’s 137,000 seat 

racetrack hosts two events from the 

top NASCAR series. The two mile 

track boasts turns banked at 18 

degrees and speeds reaching over 

210 miles per hour. 
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Detroit Landmarks

THE AMBASSADOR BRIDGE

The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects 

Detroit to Windsor, Ontario in Canada. It is the busiest border 

crossing in North America with more than 25% of all merchandise 

trade between the United States and Canada crossing the bridge. 

The bridge, which spans the Detroit River, was completed in 1932 

and is nearly 1.5 miles in total length. 

AirTran D15

American D28,30,32

Frontier D16

Southwest D20,21,23

Spirit D11,12

United D4,6

USA3000 D8,9

US Airways D14,24,25,26

U.S. CARRIERS

Air Canada D4

Lufthansa D3,5

Royal Jordanian D3,5

FOREIGN CARRIERS

The North Terminal 

Opened in 2008

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

9

10

11

12 14 15

16

17

18 19

20

21 23 24 25 26

28 30 32

INS equipped gates in red
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Delta

Delta Connection

U.S. CARRIERS

Air France

KLM

FOREIGN CARRIERS

The McNamara Terminal

Houses SkyTeam

• The McNamara Terminal opened in 2002

Detroit Landmarks

COMERICA PARK

The new home of the Detroit Tigers opened in 2000. 

Outside of the main entrance to the stadium there is a 

tiger statue that is approximately 15 feet in height. 

There are eight other heroic-sized tiger statues 

throughout the park, including two prowling on top of the 

scoreboard in left field. 
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Detroit Metro Airport, Exhibit DTW-C

OST-2010-0018
1

Detroit-Tokyo Haneda

OST-2010-0018

March 1, 2010